cine sworn to preserve life to the best of his ability, yet he did not seem to care. He seemly moved the conversation past the topic of Uganda.

The next was a Handyman skilled in the trade of home improvement. He responded with enthusiasm and interest in the project as a whole. Expressing a wistful desire to someday go to a place such as Uganda and make a difference in someone else's life. I really had his attention when I mentioned the building renovation project currently in the planing stages, as being right up his alley.

I have no way of judging the state of either man's eternal soul. I can only rely on the Bible to guide me. Jesus directed John to write to the church at Laodicea in the book o

This past Saturday I had the privilege of attending a women’s sewing bee. There were about thirty women and children present ranging from the youngest to the wisest. These women of God were bringing the love of Jesus to the children of war ravaged Uganda.

The event sponsored by Nancy, a member of ChildVoice International, a Durham New Hampshire based Christian, nonprofit humanitarian organization. ChildVoice International lists among its mission points as providing assistance to “child victims of war around the world through advocacy, research, and effective demonstration projects.” The plight of Uganda’s children seems to have escaped our main stream media.

Uganda is a landlocked country somewhat smaller than the state of Oregon. It is surround by the nations of Sudan to the North, Kenya to the East, The Congo to the West with Tanzania and Rwanda to its South.

Joseph Kony started a rebel movement to overthrow the government of Uganda in 1987. That movement is called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Among the favorite tactics utilized by the LRA to maintain control of the civilian population in the North include rape, torture, mutilation and massacre. Troop strength is augmented by the abduction and conscription of children. Girls are forced to be sexual slaves and boys either laborers or soldiers. It is estimated that over 25,000 children have been abducted by this group.

Nancy’s passion for the children of Uganda would occasionally cause her to choke on her words as tears welled in her eyes. She explained how 25,000 kids would nightly cover distances of 20 miles and more to evade the LRA patrols. These very same rebel patrols have driven an estimated 1.5 million people from their homes in Northern Uganda and into refugee camps. This mass migration and slaughter of civilians, called one of the worlds worst humanitarian emergencies, has destabilized both the security and the economy of Uganda.

Under these conditions a lack of toys to play with seems almost frivolous, as to not be worthy of consideration, but not to a child. Play can teach social skills such as how to interact with others and how to care for ones own children. Play can be an escape from the mean world that is their reality. The women participating know this instinctively and work with determination and diligence. Producing over seventy of the dolls by days end, several of the women take home raw materials to continue working at home. Nancy’s passion had energized the whole group!

Over the next few days my wife and I were to share the story of the sewing bee and the plight of Uganda with several different people. One man, a highly educated Doctor specializing in neurology, responded in the most disconcerting manner.

His reaction of seeming indifference was the one that surprised me the most. Here was a man of medicine sworn to preserve life to the best of his ability, yet he did not seem to care. He seemly moved the conversation past the topic of Uganda.

The next was a Handyman skilled in the trade of home improvement. He responded with enthusiasm and interest in the project as a whole. Expressing a wistful desire to someday go to a place such as Uganda and make a difference in someone else's life. I really had his attention when I mentioned the building renovation project currently in the planing stages, as being right up his alley.

I have no way of judging the state of either man's eternal soul. I can only rely on the Bible to guide me. Jesus directed John to write to the church at Laodicea in the book of

smaller than the state of Oregon. It is surround by the nations of Sudan to the North, Kenya to the East, The Congo to the West with Tanzania and Rwanda to its South.

Joseph Kony started a rebel movement to overthrow the government of Uganda in 1987. That movement is called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Among the favorite tactics utilized by the LRA to maintain control of the civilian population in the North include rape, torture, mutilation and massacre. Troop strength is augmented by the abduction and conscription of children. Girls are forced to be sexual slaves and boys either laborers or soldiers. It is estimated that over 25,000 children have been abducted by this group.

Nancy’s passion for the children of Uganda would occasionally cause her to choke on her words as tears welled in her eyes. She explained how 25,000 kids would nightly cover distances of 20 miles and more to evade the LRA patrols. These very same rebel patrols have driven an estimated 1.5 million people from their homes in Northern Uganda and into refugee camps. This mass migration and slaughter of civilians, called one of the worlds worst humanitarian emergencies, has destabilized both the security and the economy of Uganda.

Under these conditions a lack of toys to play with seems almost frivolous, as to not be worthy of consideration, but not to a child. Play can teach social skills such as how to interact with others and how to care for ones own children. Play can be an escape from the mean world that is their reality. The women participating know this instinctively and work with determination and diligence. Producing over seventy of the dolls by days end, several of the women take home raw materials to continue working at home. Nancy’s passion had energized the whole group!

Over the next few days my wife and I were to share the story of the sewing bee and the plight of Uganda with several different people. One man, a highly educated Doctor specializing in neurology, responded in the most disconcerting manner.

His reaction of seeming indifference was the one that surprised me the most. Here was a man of medicine sworn to preserve life to the best of his ability, yet he did not seem to care. He seemly moved the conversation past the topic of Uganda.

The next was a Handyman skilled in the trade of home improvement. He responded with enthusiasm and interest in the project as a whole. Expressing a wistful desire to someday go to a place such as Uganda and make a difference in someone else's life. I really had his attention when I mentioned the building renovation project currently in the planing stages, as being right up his alley.

I have no way of judging the state of either man's eternal soul. I can only rely on the Bible to guide me. Jesus directed John to write to the church at Laodicea in the book o

for the children of Uganda would occasionally cause her to choke on her words as tears welled in her eyes. She explained how 25,000 kids would nightly cover distances of 20 miles and more to evade the LRA patrols. These very same rebel patrols have driven an estimated 1.5 million people from their homes in Northern Uganda and into refugee camps. This mass migration and slaughter of civilians, called one of the worlds worst humanitarian emergencies, has destabilized both the security and the economy of Uganda.

Under these conditions a lack of toys to play with seems almost frivolous, as to not be worthy of consideration, but not to a child. Play can teach social skills such as how to interact with others and how to care for ones own children. Play can be an escape from the mean world that is their reality. The women participating know this instinctively and work with determination and diligence. Producing over seventy of the dolls by days end, several of the women take home raw materials to continue working at home. Nancy’s passion had energized the whole group!

Over the next few days my wife and I were to share the story of the sewing bee and the plight of Uganda with several different people. One man, a highly educated Doctor specializing in neurology, responded in the most disconcerting manner.

His reaction of seeming indifference was the one that surprised me the most. Here was a man of medicine sworn to preserve life to the best of his ability, yet he did not seem to care. He seemly moved the conversation past the topic of Uganda.

The next was a Handyman skilled in the trade of home improvement. He responded with enthusiasm and interest in the project as a whole. Expressing a wistful desire to someday go to a place such as Uganda and make a difference in someone else's life. I really had his attention when I mentioned the building renovation project currently in the planing stages, as being right up his alley.

I have no way of judging the state of either man's eternal soul. I can only rely on the Bible to guide me. Jesus directed John to write to the church at Laodicea in the book o

s and how to care for ones own children. Play can be an escape from the mean world that is their reality. The women participating know this instinctively and work with determination and diligence. Producing over seventy of the dolls by days end, several of the women take home raw materials to continue working at home. Nancy’s passion had energized the whole group!

Over the next few days my wife and I were to share the story of the sewing bee and the plight of Uganda with several different people. One man, a highly educated Doctor specializing in neurology, responded in the most disconcerting manner.

His reaction of seeming indifference was the one that surprised me the most. Here was a man of medicine sworn to preserve life to the best of his ability, yet he did not seem to care. He seemly moved the conversation past the topic of Uganda.

The next was a Handyman skilled in the trade of home improvement. He responded with enthusiasm and interest in the project as a whole. Expressing a wistful desire to someday go to a place such as Uganda and make a difference in someone else's life. I really had his attention when I mentioned the building renovation project currently in the planing stages, as being right up his alley.

I have no way of judging the state of either man's eternal soul. I can only rely on the Bible to guide me. Jesus directed John to write to the church at Laodicea in the book o

cine sworn to preserve life to the best of his ability, yet he did not seem to care. He seemly moved the conversation past the topic of Uganda.

The next was a Handyman skilled in the trade of home improvement. He responded with enthusiasm and interest in the project as a whole. Expressing a wistful desire to someday go to a place such as Uganda and make a difference in someone else's life. I really had his attention when I mentioned the building renovation project currently in the planing stages, as being right up his alley.

I have no way of judging the state of either man's eternal soul. I can only rely on the Bible to guide me. Jesus directed John to write to the church at Laodicea in the book of Revelation:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Revelation 3:15-17 (NIV)

For the Christian indifference is not an option!

According to James chapter 1:27 we are to take care of the weak and needy.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27 (NIV)

The religion that God accepts as pure and without fault is one that is lived serving Christ. We are called to be His ambassador to a dying world.

I witnessed God's handiwork in many ways those few days. I watched God raise up a new leader. Nancy, at times surprised that others would look to her for guidance, handled her new role with grace.

It never ceases to amaze me when I see God's hand at work. He can use the least of things, even Rag Dolls, to accomplish His purpose. Rag Dolls, a few bits of cloth, yarn and stuffing, stitched together by a handful of Godly women . The Rag Doll as God's tool to bring witness to a fallen world. The Rag Doll as His way to bring pleasure and testimony to children continents away. The Rag Doll as a symbol of the Love of Jesus.

I'll pray that God raises up more leaders like Nancy. More projects like the sewing bee. More people like YOU to bear witness to the living God, Jesus Christ, to these children and children like them all over the world.

If you would like more information please visit Ugandan Hope. To learn how you can help visit ChildVoice International, World Vision or Amazing Change.