Friends & Family,
Do you have a special place in your heart for orphans, widows, and refugees? An amazing opportunity has come my way, and I’m hoping you’ll be a part of it. This summer I have been invited to join a short-term missions team from Salinas Valley Community Church going to the South Sudanese refugee camps in northern Uganda. Because of South Sudan’s violent civil war, thousands of people have fled and are now living in numerous camps just inside Uganda. These people, most of whom are widows and children (including many, many orphans), have lost everything they valued – their homes, family and friends, and their country. Our presence with them is a source of encouragement and hope as we partner with local missionaries who are daily helping those who have been exiled and are living in these camps scattered over the northern part of Uganda.
Why me?As you know, I’m passionate about bringing hope and wonder to the kids who need it most – who have suffered trauma, been displaced, have lost family and feel alone. This opportunity will allow me to do that in a unique way to refugee kids in Africa. How awesome is that?!?!
How will it happen?I will be part of the small team (3 of us from the larger team) who will be setting up children’s programs in the camps. These programs will be run while we’re there, but are also devised to continue to long after the team is gone. Currently, there’s very little specifically for kids in the camps. Our help in getting the programs started will allow the local missionaries to continue bringing hope and care to kids throughout the year and beyond.
When is it happening?We’ll be leaving the U.S. on Sunday, June 30 and returning two weeks later. We fly to Amsterdam, then to Entebbe in southern Uganda, then take a small plane to the camps in northern Uganda. Then we’ll be travelling from camp to camp by car.
How Can You Help?Please pray for our trip! And if you’re able, consider supporting me financially. I need to raise approximately $4,500 before June to make this trip happen. Donations are tax deductible. Here’s how you can donate:
1) Write a checkto SVCC and put “Marlo Schalesky – Uganda” in the memo. Send the check to the church at 368 San Juan Grade Rd., Salinas, CA 93906, or send it to me at 8100 Wild Horse Rd., Salinas, CA 93907.
2) Donate onlineor via textat http://www.svcc.net/give(again choose my name from the online giving drop down menu, or include it in the text if giving by text).
3) Use PayPal’s“send money to friends/family” feature using marlo@marloschalesky.com(no tax deduction) or marlo@wonderwoodranch.com(for a tax deduction). Note that it’s for Uganda.
Thank you for considering partnering with me on this adventure to Africa! Just email me at marlo@marloschalesky.comif you have any questions or want to find out more.
Reaching for Wonder … in Uganda!
Marlo Schalesky
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