New Creation Center and Family Home

Kampala, Uganda
by Wick Nease


The Rhythm’s of Africa Rocked our Hearts

This is the final orphanage and children’s home of our trip to Africa.  It’s so hard to believe that we depart tomorrow to return to the USA.  We have had such a tremendous  team with us on this journey and we’ll all be sad to part company at the end of our time.

New Creation Center

New Creation Center Dance Performance

It seems that we have saved one of the best orphan and children’s ministries for last. I was here in Uganda in March and saw the New Creation Center for the first time.  There are about 70 children in the school.  All of them are refugees from the war in the Sudan.  As the war rages in that country, many Sudanese have fled to Uganda, only to find themselves trapped in refugee camps in their new country.

These Sudanese adults and children are isolated, demeaned, and generally despised in their new land.  The children can not go to school, and are locked into a cycle of poverty.  Ken and Sherry Roberts founded “Loving One By One” to help these and many others in Uganda.

The Rhythms of Africa Rocked Our Hearts!

As we entered the meeting hall at the school, we saw that there had been many preparations for our time.  We were warmly greeted with hugs and smiling faces.  They were waiting for us…. And we were not disappointed.  The kids sang and danced their way into our hearts as they showed us the traditional dances of the Sudan, and of Africa in General.  This is a very skilled team, and we loved being a part of their presentation.

Celebrating with Baloons and Candy

New Creation Family Home

New Creation Family Home - What Special Kids!

From the school, we traveled a few miles to the New Creation Family Home.  This place is home to 15 of the most loving, best-adjusted kids I’ve ever met.  They’re also the “huggiest” group I’ve ever seen, too.  The last time I was here, as soon as we pulled into the driveway, the kids came pouring out of the house, and surrounded the car to hug us, even before we got out of the car.  These are HAPPY kids, filled with joy and obviously loved.

After lots of time to just hang out, Sarah led the children in a time of sharing testimonies, singing, dancing, and reciting whole chapters of the Bible.  Wow!!  This was a real challenge to all of us.

Extreme Makeover - Orphan Edition

After the program, they zeroed in on several who they wanted to do a Kid Makeover of.  It was hilarious to see Donna with her hair up in ribbons!!  I got great photos, but she made me promise not to share them online.

Thank you, Sherry and Ken, for your hearts to love these kids.  Thanks for living out genuine love to these special children!

They Have Adopted 27 Kids and Counting!!!

Jinja, Uganda - June 1, 2010
by Wick Nease

Sam Kisolo’s Uganda Street Kids & Foster Family Network

As I sit to write this post I’m completely overwhelmed with the sheer mountain of what we could say about this incredible ministry.   They are doing the impossible with very few resources….I can only imagine what they could accomplish with adequate funding.

Sam Kisolo

I first met Sam Kisolo in March on my first trip to Uganda.  Sam is one of those deeply impacting people, not just because of what he says, but because of the life he lives.  Sam and Irene had 4 biological children, and then when a couple of relatives died of AIDS, Sam and Irene took their children into their home, adopting them as their own. They first adopted one child, then another, and then yet another one again, until Sam and Irene had adopted 27 children.  Yes, they now have 31 children from 27 years of age to just 6 years old.

You Have to Love the Kisolo Family Celebration - "Shaking The Bones"

We had the privilege of having dinner in the Kisolo home.  What an event!  I know this is normal for them, but every meal is a logistical challenge.  The children are so impressive!  They are all happy, and very articulate.  They are the kind of children any parent would be very proud of, just very good kids with their heads screwed on right.

Medical Clinic

One Young Patient at the Medical Clinic 

As we arrived at the village medical clinic in Namakandwa, Uganda, patients filled the clinic's treatment rooms and reception.  The clinic treats 150 patients every week, and for only $800 US, they can provide medical care to 600 patients a month.  This is the only medial care most of them will ever receive.

Namakandwa, Uganda Clinic Staff

Foster Family Network   

Two families with 15 Children are Supported by Sam's Ministry

Adoption is just the beginning of Sam and Irene’s ministry.  There is a scripture that says “God sets the lonely in families”.  Sam has pioneered a network that is now changing the lives of 165 orphans in Uganda alone. Sam leads a major ministry in Uganda, and has challenged his leadership team to do something about the orphan crisis in Uganda.  There are over 2,000,000 orphans in Uganda from both AIDS and the civil war that has wracked this country for many years.  The staff and leadership team have responded in amazing ways.  They have adopted about 94 children into their own homes, and have sponsored satellite homes where they support families willing to bring those children up as their own.  We traveled to one home with 18 children.  Another had taken in 8.  The story goes on.

The Children Sang and Danced For Us

We had the privilege of attending the quarterly Foster Family celebration.  The kid’s songs, dances and testimonies pierced our hearts.  This was a ministry living out the mandate for us to “Live your lives in such a way, that they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven” (Matt. 5:16).  The individual testimonies brought tears to our eyes.  The stories were heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. 

We were deeply Impacted by The Kids Testimonies

I was at a loss for words when we left Sam today.  All I could say was “Thank you, Sam for being the heart of Jesus to all of these kids.”

Queen Latifa & Mother Teresa All Rolled Into One

Jinja Uganda, May 2010
Siita Nest Mother’s Love Home
by Wick Nease

Alice Danced with the Kids

How do you describe Alica Kisolo?  I think that the  best way I can describe her is that she is a mixture of Queen Latifa and Mother Teresa.  We arrived at Siita Nest Mother’s Love Home and saw the extensive preparations for our arrival. There was a large Canvas awning over the sitting area, and the kids were all lined up to share what God has done in their lives through this wonderful home.

The Siita Nest Children Danced For Us

I was immediately struck by the joy in their eyes, and the confidence in their countenance.  This was a wonderful group of kids, who knew God and His redeeming power in their lives.  Almost all of the kids are orphans from AIDS or from the civil war in Northern Uganda.  They have experienced the worst of lives and circumstances, but the strength of Alice Kisolo, is that she leads her children through their grief, and into the freedom of forgiveness and healing.  These are Happy kids, who have been touched by Alice’s love and God’s love.

Jeffrey Escaped into the Jungle With His Sister

Jeffrey is one of those young men.  When he was just a boy, Jeffrey’s home in Northern Uganda was invaded by armed rebels.  The family fled from their home, but both of his parents were captured and killed by the guerrillas.  Jeffrey and his sister hid in the jungle and were able to escape.  Their only other family member is an elderly grandmother who could not care for them.  Jeffrey heard about a wonderful home called Siita Nest Mother’s Love home, and applied to come into the home.  He was accepted, and now lives here, while providing help to other relatives.

The Small Kids Entertained Us As Well

Alice Kisolo has 100 Children in her Siita Nest Mother’s Love Home, and another 85 children in foster families.  A wonderful ministry for a VERY special woman!

AIDS, You Have Taken my Father and Mother

Jinja Uganda – May 2010

St. Ameria Orphanage and School

Edith is the Director of St. Ameria

Driving out of Jinja, you turn on a small road into the village of Mbiko.  Everything changes when you make that turn.  The houses become much smaller.  Children in tattered clothes walk the road, and you are in a new world.  Soon, you turn up a rutted gravel road with banana trees on both sides.  This is the Africa of National Geographic. 

St. Ameria

Soon we enter the St. Ameria orphanage and school.  Simple brick buildings line a courtyard, and children come pouring out.  We meet Edith, the director of the orphanage and school.  500 children attend school here.  Almost all of them are orphans.  Others are children from very poor families who cannot afford to attend regular school.  Some live in this simple complex.

The Children of St. Ameria performing a dance for us

We are greeted in true African fashion, with speeches, food and formal greetings.  Then, the children performed a deeply moving program.  They danced traditional Ugandan dances, and we saw the joyful side of Africa.  

Balloons, Bubbles and Candy

Today was my birthday… what a place to celebrate your birthday.  We broke out the balloons, bubbles and candy, and had a joyous celebration.  It was one of the most fun times of my life.

What a Way To Spend a Birthday!

AIDS, You Have Taken my Father and Mother

AIDS - Why Have You Killed My Mother And Father?

The atmosphere changed immediately as the children began to sing about Aids.  “AIDS, you have taken my father and my mother”.   The children began to weep, and each of us was so deeply touched as the children sang and wept at the loss of father, mother and many family members.  Every child has lost a family member to AIDS.  Most of them have lost both father and mother to this devastating disease.  Many of us wept as the reality of their grief impacted our hearts.  This is the AIDS epidemic up close and very personal.

How do you put into words the depth of emotion you have experienced at the grief of children living with the devastation of an epidemic like AIDS?  We were all deeply  touched today.

This is a video taken a couple of years ago of these children singing this song about the devastation of the AIDS epidemic on their lives:



by Wick Nease

The Widows of the Widow’s and Orphan’s Homes

Growing Old In A Place of Grace And Love

Tizera is a modern day Mother Theresa

In this society, widows have no hope at all, especially if they have no children.  They live on the streets, or in conditions of extreme poverty.  They are without hope and desperate, as they simply try to survive. 

Fifteen years ago, the Lord gave Tizera a vision to help widows and orphans.  She kept this in her heart for many years, and then launched this dynamic ministry.  When I’m with Tizera, I feel like I am with a modern day Mother Theresa.  She is that caliber of person. 

She was just like my Aunt Alice

The widows in Tizera’s home are in a delightful setting.  They are loved, and cared for, but they also get to love on the babies of the home.  What a combination!! They can be cared for, and also care for the ‘little ones’.   

She was thrown out of her son-in-law's house when her daughter died.

One of the widows was living with her daughter and son-in-law until her daughter died.  As soon as the funeral was concluded, her son-in-law took her to the alley next to his house and locked her out of his house.  She sat there for 12 days, in fear and desperation.  Each day, Tizera saw her sitting in the alley.  On the 12^th day, she stopped, heard her story, and brought her to the home.  She now has a family.

When I saw the widows, I was instantly drawn to one of the ladies.  She reminded me so much of my great aunt Alice.  She has the same warm, accepting spirit, and she just has that ‘special something’ that made Aunt Alice so unique.    There are 8 widows living in the home right now.  It’s a VERY special place. 

“Hunger is Heavier Than This Flour”

The Widows are given 40 lbs. of Flour a Month

Not all of the widows can live in the Widow’s and Orphan’s Home.  There are about 20 additional widows who receive food assistance every month through this ministry.  Today was the day that they distribute food to the poor widows of the city.  Twenty widows lined the perimeter of the courtyard, and we were so blessed to be a part of giving each widows 44 lbs of flour.  This ministry literally means life to these widows. 

We heard their stories

As each widow came up, some of them were quite elderly, and some in very poor health.  Tizera had a worker in the meeting to help the widows carry their flour out.  On a recent food distribution, as they were helping one woman, she said “I can carry this!  Hunger is heavier than this Flour”!

The widows also receive a small amount of money to help them with the basics of life.  This is part of the mandate of the Lord to help the widows and orphans, and to show His heart to the needy of this world. 

“For I was hungry and your gave me food” … Jesus

She’s Blind, She Weaves Beautiful Baskets, and She Gave Us A Gift

One of the widows is totally blind, but she is an expert basket weaver.  Each of our team members was so blessed to receive a gift from this wonderful woman.  It was humbling to all of us.

The First Floor of The New Widow’s and Orphans Home is Almost Completed

The New Widows & Orphans Home

The Widow’s and Orphan’s Home is expanding!  The current rented facility no longer meets all of the needs of the ministry.  Last year, the team broke ground on a new home and facility. It will be a five-story building with beautiful courtyard.  It will eventually have everything that they need to house 30 orphans and 10 widows, a medical clinic, offices, and guest housing for visiting volunteers.  We had the privilege of going to the construction site, and seeing the great progress on the construction of the new building. 

A dear family on the West Coast has donated the money for the construction of the first floor of the new building.  One down, and four to go!