Uganda

Thanks to the generous donations of partners like you, children in COTN–Uganda were able to hold Christmas parties. They celebrated the birth of Jesus through dancing, nutritious meals, and gift giving.

Children were excited by the new clothes they received, but one of the very best presents was letters from the children’s sponsors.

by COTN Staff

If you’ve been wondering why you haven’t seen a blog post about Uganda’s summer camp yet, it’s because Children of the Nations in Uganda holds their camp in December, during their break from school.

However, every summer COTN-Uganda celebrates Center Days, an event at our ministry site where children perform songs, dances, and skits for their families and the local community.

by COTN staff

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Flavia’s favorite story from the Bible is Job. Flavia’s own trials started early. Her parents died when she was very young. So she lived with her grandmother in a small village in Uganda. 

by Bethany F. Brengan, COTN–USA Staff Writer

Andrew vividly remembers his life before COTN: “I could see my mom toiling hard for us, and this would break my heart because I knew she will not go far like that with us. And somehow, I wanted to join hands with her and help her do anything, even if it made no sense, but [I] just wanted to show her that it would be well with us. Yet at night, I would get in bed and weep so bitterly about myself and my sister’s future.”

by COTN staff

For many children, Easter morning is filled with anticipation. They hurriedly run out of their rooms to see what gifts are in their basket or what candy is in their eggs. 

by Jessica Borrelli, COTN-USA Staff Writer

The sun has set in Uganda, and six-year-old Elizabeth is almost done with her chores. She has walked to the river, filled her bucket high with water, and walked home with it carefully balanced on her head. She has taken a portion of this water, poured it into a basin, and bathed her baby cousin.

Her last task of the day is to build a fire. As the flames grow, her family gathers around with hungry eyes. Elizabeth waits to eat her first and last meal of the day. 

by Cassia Burke, COTN-USA Volunteer Writer

Uganda is a beautiful country, full of historical and natural landmarks, including the source of the Nile River and Lake Victoria, the largest lake on the continent of Africa. 

But most of our students have never traveled much further than walking distance from their village and our school. That's why it's become a tradition for COTN's seventh-grade class to take a study tour. Come see the sights of Uganda with them as you enjoy these pictures!

by Cassia Burke, COTN-USA Staff Writer; Photos by Lindsey Mueller, COTN-International Uganda Education Specialist

Two years ago a young woman who had never even left her country set off on a journey across Africa. Her goal was to earn a college degree—an accomplishment both rare and difficult where she comes from. The path she took to get there certainly wasn’t typical. But then again, no former orphan girl from a remote village in Sierra Leone who earns a college degree could be called typical. 

by Cassia Burke, COTN-USA Staff Writer

Having children was a struggle for my wife and me. When we were finally able to conceive, it was a huge answer to prayer. I think because of this—and I don’t want to say this wrong—but in a way, we have viewed having children with a greater sense of gratefulness than maybe someone who didn’t struggle through the same things as we did. 

by Jeff Lander, COTN-International Spiritual Care Director

On a recent trip to Malawi and Uganda this past March, I was bestowed the great honor of being a guest speaker at a three-day conference that led up to the grand opening of a new COTN¬Uganda church plant and school chapel.

by Jeff Lander, COTN-International Spiritual Care Director