For the past two weeks, Michael, Rosemary and eight of the children from St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood have been touring in the northwest. They were brought over to the US in conjunction with the efforts of a non-for-profit organization called Sister Schools, which is based in Seattle. They have been performing in concerts, spending time at schools and sightseeing. Next year, if they are able to come again, Change the Truth will most likely be a co-sponsor, which means the group will come to Kansas City!
The kids will head back to Uganda with Rosemary next week, but Michael will make his way to Kansas City for a three-day visit. I am really looking forward to having him here and to introducing him to the people who are donating money to support the orphanage through Change the Truth, as well as groups that have expressed an interest in beginning long-term projects to establish lasting relationships with the kids in Uganda. While he’s here, we will make sure he gets his fill of Kansas City bar-b-que, good jazz, maybe a Royals game, a visit to Operation Breakthrough and the grand soiree that will take place as the Nelson-Atkins museum opens its doors to the much anticipated, glorious new wing.
Michael and I will also discuss immediate needs at the orphanage as well as long-range projects that could use our support. He has already given me the names of the next two kids who need help with secondary school fees; they are James Buyondo and Catherine Nanziri. Because of the incredible generosity of all of you, we will definitely be able to assist these two students. This brings the number of secondary school students who are benefiting from Change the Truth to eight! As my eighteen year old Max would say… sweet!
Another topic Michael and I will discuss is the pen pal arrangement. Some of you have heard from your pen pals, others have not. We will try to determine how to best make this work. If you or you child would like to begin corresponding with one of the children from the orphanage, please send me an email stating age and gender preference.
Michael tells me the children have been wearing their Change the Truth t-shirts in and around Seattle. He ended a recent missive with these words: “Gloria, I will try to change the truth.” Pretty powerful, given the work that he does day in and day out as manager of an orphanage full of sick, impoverished and lonely (but beautiful, bright and optimistic) children.
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