July/August 2006

“Another One Has Left the Nest!”

We forgot to add her name to those who have graduated. We hope she will let this one go. As a family we had the happy/sad occasion of saying goodbye to another one of our daughters. Most of you have not met her. In fact, I have not personally met her. Jolly Irinaiwa joined our family 12 years ago when we began sponsoring her through Compassion International. She was 10 years old, the same as our daughter Jennifer. She was from Uganda, a place we knew very little about. We decided to support her and Jennifer wrote to her on and off all these years. We recently received a letter of thanks telling us of Jolly's next step.

Dear Shannon and Jennifer, I greet you all in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I believe you are well there in the United States. It is raining here in Uganda with some days of sunshine.This letter is specifically to thank you for all the love and support you have been to Jolly. Jolly is very proud of you and she says she cannot manage to express all her thanks to you. Her family members, her church, and the Compassion Center where she belongs, send all their love and greetings. I am informing you that Jolly will no longer be on the Compassion Program. She has grown to 22 years of age, so she has graduated from the Compassion Program.

We are proud that through your support she has been mentored by the programs at her center and has developed into a young lady of leadership qualities.

Spiritually, Jolly has developed through Sunday School, Bible Class and is now in a fellowship group that preaches to other people. She accepted Christ while at the center in Spiritual Programs. She testifies that she is passing the Good News of the cross to the students at the University. Because of your support she now lives a changed life.

Academically, Jolly has been getting school dues from your support. As a child of a widowed mom, Jolly could not have passed through secondary and high school education for these years because it is expensive. But by your support she excelled and now is at the University doing a course of Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She will be a Secondary School teacher after three years of study. Jolly developed leadership skills from the program due to social talks, career and guidance programs done in Compassion. She has held many leading posts in school and we believe you have helped groom a global leader who can impact her community. Thank you for all of that. Jolly used to get writing books, uniforms and other clothes, food, mattresses, basins and soap among other things from your support. We are grateful and we shall continue praying that God rewards you and uses you the more.
Love From Uganda.

Congratulations to Jolly! I hope someday we will get to meet our fourth daughter. I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to be blessed by getting involved in Jolly's life. Compared to what we spend on ourselves, our sharing was so little. But it made a huge difference for Jolly. As you live your life, I encourage you to get involved with the children both here and around the world. You will be blessed.
Have a Great Summer!

Pastor Craig