I wrote this to a lady who supports the work of Millie's Orphanage...
Here is a brief history of my relationship with Bishop Moses Thabugha and his organization, Millie's Orphanage.
I met Bishop Moses on Facebook. Beginning in early 2016, we began communicating about his school, the children, prison ministry, marriage seminars, and more. I was initially uncertain about the authenticity of his work, but I began sending small financial gifts. He was consistent in sending dated receipts for all gifts that I was able to send him, along with pictures and receipts for items he purchased: The receipts were for food, school supplies for the children, rent payments for the school, building supplies (eg. for the 4-stance latrine for Millie’s school) and other organizational needs.
Around that time, I was working on plans to visit another Ugandan organization (Wonder Afrika) that my husband had visited a couple times, most recently in 2014/15, while preaching in churches in Uganda.
We were unable to include a visit to Millie's Orphanage School in Kasese that year, so Bishop Moses arranged to come to meet us in the Kampala area. He toured Wonder Afrika with us - the school, gardens, income projects, water borehole, church, and housing, and shared with us about his own work in Kasese.
The following year, I was eager to return to Uganda and visit Bishop Moses at Millie's Orphanage. During my visit with Millie’s, I was struck by the Bishop's faith in God, his seeming unending energy, and passion for meeting the needs of children and other people around Kasese. He was ministering the gospel to people of all ages – in their local church and in the community, with husbands and wives while holding marriage seminars in the mountain villages, with children while visiting schools in the Rwenzori foothills with Kasese youth while helping them get their licenses so they could begin earning an income driving boda bodas. . .
He talked of his and his leadership team’s prayers and fasting for me and my family and ministry. He told me about the commitment of the teachers and staff at Millie's. It was humbling and eye-opening. They are often working for less than their full salary, as they prepare the children for their future and strengthen Uganda.
Another notable memory from that initial trip to the Kasese area was our visit to an AIDS village near the Kilembe copper mines. Bishop Moses took us to meet his lifelong friend, Leftenant Augustus in the village of Kyanjuki. Bishop and Augustus had met during their service in the Ugandan Army. Augustus is a very quiet, soft-spoken and honorable man who loves the Lord. He had started fishponds, bee keeping, and gardens for income generation projects for people living with AIDS in Kyanjuki. Augustus had big plans for the precious and ostracized people - Employment, income, food, and hope, dignity, and a future!
One-and-a-half years later, the number of fishponds had nearly quadrupled, and contracts with local markets were being sought. Other projects had been added, as well, including pig keeping and a daycare for small children - with plans to add primary grades.
Heartbreakingly, floods have completely destroyed the fishponds and other projects and also many of the people’s homes, devastating Augustus and the people of Kyanjuki. The outlook for the village is bleak and prayer is desperately needed for Leftenant and the entire village! They are experiencing many barriers to rebuilding. Agustus is in very poor health. Whereas the village was showing promising signs of growth and strength – women starting small income projects, community beautification efforts – they are now struggling to stay alive. The people are starving, health is rapidly declining , medication is out of reach, and more children are coming down with AIDS. Prayer for healing and efforts at rebuilding is urgently needed for the dear people of Kyanjuki.
I know that you are aware of Millie's Orphanage move to another property. The previous location was sold when the owner had to sell to meet his own medical expenses. We are working on raising the down payment of 15,000,000ugx (4,100usd +fees). There is an existing school structure, and electricity is available at the street. They will also still need a well to meet the need of clean water for the 350 children and staff.
Thank you for taking time to read this letter and also for your loving support of Millie's Orphanage. May God’s richest blessings be on you, your family, your church, and your community.
Love and prayer, Sharlene Greene
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