Trip to Uganda reinforces faith

Kate Thomas, a junior at Stratford High School, says traveling with the charity Empower a Child was a powerful experience.

Over the past few years, my family has become very involved with an organization called Empower a Child. Last year, I was inspired to create a group called the Junior Board, which consists of high school students who have a passion to serve others.

We have raised money through participating in a 5K fun run, hosting a car wash, holding a benefit concert and collecting school supplies. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Uganda and distribute the school supplies first-hand. Meeting the children and creating spiritual bonds was the most eye-opening experience I have ever had. Empower a Child works to provide children with an education through sponsorship, and to empower them to transform their lives through what they learn.

Throughout my time in Uganda, I saw that Empower a Child truly is making a difference. It has helped transform a village dependent on sustenance farming, with little hope for the future, to a thriving community with a church and school. Residents take classes on hygiene and health, fire safety and prevention, sex education and adult literacy. Spending time there impacted me in many ways, but what struck me the hardest was that the Ugandans I met appear to be physically poor but spiritually rich. Here in America, many of us are physically rich but spiritually poor.

I have always gone to church and Christian camps, and I have had a strong relationship with Christ for a long time, but nothing here compares to the true dependence the people I met in Zirobwe village seem to have on God and the extreme level of trust, love and joy.

Sponsorship plays a key role in enabling a child to be a part of this new Christian community. If you are interested, see the website empowerachild.org. I would like to thank the Junior Board members, Chapelwood United Methodist Church and friends in this community for enabling these things to be possible.

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