Love Abound

Three Uganda volunteer experiences:

Rein Jones, 2017 Short Term Volunteer

The first morning we went to God’s Hope Primary School, we were greeted by a festival with all the primary students shouting and screaming with so much joy. It touched my heart as soon as I saw them at the gate, and I held back tears so they wouldn’t think I was sad. But wow, the joy on these little kids’ faces was so infectious and life giving. They were so eager and happy to see their “Muzungu.” Unlike we might think, these kids know that they live in poverty, know how great and prosperous America is, and yet still never show any pity for themselves or lament how disadvantaged they are. In fact, they abound with joy pretty much 24/7. They were so thankful and just full of love toward us, and it was extremely genuine. That is something that we Americans can learn from these great people: genuineness. Whether in speech or in action, everything these kids say and do is genuine. They don’t say they love us to make us feel good; they say they love us because they actually do. They love us so much, and they go out of their way to make sure we know that. It’s an amazing reflection of the love of God for us, his children.

To these young Ugandans, education is respected, revered, and regarded as of the utmost importance. These kids are so intelligent and hardworking. During a regular school week, students typically get up at 5 a.m. to study before classes, go to their classes, and then revise their notes after class and study until dark. In addition to that, when the student who was telling me all of this was speaking, she was not speaking to me with attitude of complaint, but rather with a happy and grateful demeanor. She continued to tell me her study habits and how they have about 14+ subjects they study at one time. The more she told me, the more astonished I was at how disciplined these kids were. I told her that if she was in the U.S., she would blow Americans out of the water because of her amazing self-discipline. I told her about how I sometimes will procrastinate with my work, and she immediately scolded me. She told me that it is never good to wait to do your work, and that I should be studying many, many days before a test; it was a good scolding, I must say :-)!!!

You see, education is what allows these kids to get out of unimaginable poverty, and so they cherish it so much more than we do in America. They thank God so often for education and also for us who they say “have hearts of gold.” This broke my heart when I heard this. They thought that we Americans have hearts of gold! They may think this of us, but they have no idea how greedy, wasteful, and self-serving we Americans really are. But even if they did know these things about Americans, I’m sure they would still only see the best in us!!! I love these people!

Many of these young Ugandans are already taking their Christianity extremely serious and actually have an impressive understanding of theology. What’s so amazing about this is how young some of these kids are and how they already have their own steady relationship with our Heavenly Dad. I could write so much more about the amazing character of these people, but I’ll leave it at this for today! Going to Uganda and God’s Hope Primary School has filled my heart with so much love and just gratitude to have been among these amazing, beautiful, and joyful kids. There is so much reflection of Jesus there and in those kids, and I loved it – and part of my heart will be in Uganda forever!!!

Riley Eryn, 2017 Short Term Volunteer

Joy and Love are the words I would use to describe my trip to Uganda. The atmosphere completely changes when you walk into the gates of God’s Hope Primary and Secondary School. The kids instantly run up and grab your hands or give you a big hug; to them you are not a stranger, you are just a new friend they are excited to know. The kids have taught me the true meaning of unconditional love. It has no boundaries or expectations. Uganda will forever hold a piece of my heart.

Jamie Steadman, 2017 Short Term Volunteer

This summer I was blessed to be able to return to Uganda, Africa, a second time. I went with Simone’s Kids to God’s Hope School. One day definitely stands out in my mind as the most incredible day. We began the day by going to church. Laura and I went to a different church than we had been to before. Pastor Joseph was so energetic! I don’t think I have ever seen so much dancing and singing at a church service before! The service was so amazing! After that, we walked on a dirt road to a clearing in a field. We trekked through a muddy path to a little creek. There were SO MANY people standing up on the bank. That day, over 90 students and people from the community were baptized! That was such an amazing thing to witness. We were all muddy and hot and sweaty, but I wouldn’t change a thing. To see all of those students make that commitment to God was so powerful.

To learn more about our trip opportunities please email Mason Satterfield at mason@simoneskids.com

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Celebration and Family in Uganda

My middle school self knew that one day I was going to go to Uganda. I did not know the when, how, or why, but I knew that it was part of God’s plan for me. I had experienced some Ugandan culture in the United States, and from that moment on, I had a longing to be with the people of Uganda in their country. That longing continued to pull on my heart. Little did I know that sitting next to a new person in a summer class, almost 10 years later, would lead me to what I now consider a second home in Uganda.

That new person was Mason Satterfield, Director of Programs for Simone’s Kids. He introduced Simone’s Kids to me via an assignment for our class. I was intrigued by his joyous demeanor when talking about the organization. I instantly knew that Simone’s Kids was something special, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of the organization in some capacity. Our summer class came to an end, and a year later I started my journey with Simone’s Kids. I attended the organization’s fundraiser, A Classroom for Christmas, in November 2015. I had the opportunity to hear Simone and Godfrey, the headmaster of the primary school, speak. By the end of that night, I knew that I was going to go to Uganda. God had orchestrated a plan so perfect that started with a college class that led me to A Classroom for Christmas which ultimately led me to Uganda. This was the capacity in which I was to support Simone’s Kids, and I could not have been more excited by what was to come.

June 15, 2016, I stepped out of a plane in Uganda with a team of 7 ready to serve with Simone’s Kids. The moments that unfolded next overwhelmed my soul. We exited the airport doors to be quickly engulfed in a sea of hugs and hellos from Ugandans that did not know us yet were simply overjoyed to receive us in Uganda. This moment was multiplied over the next 2 ½ weeks. I experienced life in a way that only one can experience themselves. Suddenly, I was part of a family that extended over 2 schools, a library, boarding sections, kitchens, and the community of Nakaseke. I felt at home within 24 hours. The theme of this trip was ultimately celebration. We celebrated the coming of our team, the new leadership of the secondary school, the baptism of students and adults, the students’ hard work with new school supplies, and so much more. Through these celebrations, I was able to meet the people that are now so precious to me. I met my Ugandan family made up of Godfrey, Hope, and their children. I met the staff of God’s Hope Primary and Secondary schools. And I met the students at each school who continue to amaze me with their grit and determination for a better future. I also met the little girl who would soon steal my heart.

On the second day of the trip, I felt a small hand reach for mine. This hand belonged to a precious little girl in P1. Her hand did not leave mine for the remainder of the trip. Every moment she was not in class, she would find me on the school compound and grab my hand. She barely knew any English, but that did not stop us from forming a bond. This led to us getting to experience life together. I even had the chance to take her shopping alongside all our team and their sponsor students. She chose me. Therefore, I chose her. She is now my sponsor child. She was just one of the many reasons I knew that I would return to Nakaseke and continue to volunteer with Simone’s Kids.

I was beyond grateful for my time in Uganda, and I was extremely emotional when it came time to say goodbye to all of our new friends and family. All I could do was thank God for the relationships I built with the people and pray for another opportunity to return to Nakaseke with Simone’s Kids. That opportunity came sooner rather than later.

June 6, 2017, I returned to Nakaseke, Uganda, for a longer stay. I traveled with 2 of my closest friends from the previous team trip, and we were ready to once again serve and live life amongst the people of Nakaseke. I experienced many of the same events that I did the previous year, but with a new outlook. I now felt a sense of comfort because I knew my surroundings. I felt comfortable walking the streets of Nakaseke. I knew how to get to my friends’ houses, and I knew where to get breakfast or a drink. I was at ease when I was sitting on the wall of the bakery at the secondary school and walking from classroom to classroom on the compound. I recognized faces, and they recognized me. One of my favorite memories from this summer was being welcomed not by strangers but by friends. Those hugs at the airport from my sponsor child, who chose me, and the hugs and “you are most welcomes” from the secondary students at our guest house solidified that I was indeed back in a place I love. I felt at home. For this reason, I could build upon the relationships that were cultivated the previous year.

I mentioned that the theme of my first trip was celebration. I feel like the theme of this summer’s trip was family. I met my sponsor child’s family. She has a brother and a sister at God’s Hope Primary and a little sister at home. I met her mother and received a tour of her home. At that moment, I knew exactly what she needed, and I was thankful for the opportunity to provide necessities for her family. She chose me last summer, and when I chose her, I also chose her sweet family.

I met the families of students that I knew from the previous year that are represented at God’s Hope Primary and Secondary schools. I met the three other siblings for a total of six that are represented at the secondary school, and they are some of the most amazing young men and women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I met the brother of one my closest friends at the secondary school. They make one of the best brother duos of all time. I also met mothers and grandmothers of our primary students when we went on home visits to deliver Mother’s Day gifts. Family is one of the most important things in my life, and it was a true pleasure to meet the families of these people I have grown to love and experience what family means to them. I also met one more important person on this trip.

I had another student choose me this year. Over the past year, the secondary school’s attendance has doubled. Therefore, there were many faces I did not recognize. There was one face that caught my eye the first time the secondary school choir performed for the team. She was on the front row, and she was fiercely praising the Lord with all her being. I knew that there was something special about her. As the weeks went on, I noticed that she went out of her way to speak to me during the breaks of her school day. We talked almost every day, and I quickly realized she was going to be my second sponsor student. She chose me, and I chose her. I wanted to sponsor her, but she was not in the Simone’s Kids program. I was happy that she could pay for her schooling, but I felt like I was still supposed to be her sponsor. Ten days later I received a message from Mason telling me she was now part of the program. I responded without hesitation, and much to my surprise, Mason let me tell her via video chat. I was overjoyed to be able to tell her “in person” that I chose her. She is now a part of my family, and I could not be happier.

I have learned so many things from my time spent in Uganda. I have learned that a simple act of kindness can change the world of one student and eventually have a bigger impact on their community. I have learned that communication barriers do not exist when love is involved. I have learned that praising God can be a one-on-one conversation or a boisterous event filled with dancing and singing. I have learned that without all the distractions of the world we can have intentional conversations. I have also learned that family is more than the family that you are born into. It is also the family that is divinely connected to you. Godfrey used the term divine connections on my first trip to Uganda. He said that we were all in Nakaseke for a purpose and where there is purpose there is provision. We were divinely connected for a similar purpose before we even knew each other. Divine connections are the reason I was able to live out that purpose placed in my life when I originally longed for Uganda. Divine connections cannot be broken, and I more thankful every day for those unbreakable connections I have with the people of Uganda. I have been blessed beyond measure, and I look forward to my future and the future of Simone’s Kids in Nakaseke, Uganda.

Until then, Uganda.

Nkwagala Nyo,

Laura “Lola” Callaway

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Just One Drop in the Bucket

My Time in Uganda
By Chandler Scott, Simone’s Kids Short-Term Trip Volunteer

June 2017 marked my second journey to Nakaseke, Uganda, with Simone’s Kids. The first team trip I went on was in 2016. After arriving to the schools the first time, it took about 20 minutes for me to realize this organization was something way more incredible than I had imagined. The students, teachers, and staff welcomed us to their beautiful school through singing and dancing and hugging for hours. Both schools welcomed us, and they were not just welcoming us to their school but into their lives. They love so fearlessly with no wavering.

I was overwhelmed and ashamed of my timid stance on loving people well. What was I so afraid of? I remember asking Jesus to help me love with abandon. I knew that was what I was supposed to do – I had been taught it all my life – but after seeing so many strangers love the team so fiercely, I wanted to do more than know it was right. I wanted to do it right. These people and I serve the same risen savior, and it took a trip across the world, those particular people, and their example of Christ-like love to help me step into a boldness for Christ that I’m not sure I would have found otherwise.

I am forever grateful for that change in my own life. One day is all it took, but I had 2 weeks there, so it was game on. I was extremely excited to meet my sponsor child I call sweet Maria. The programs director, Mason, spotted her first at the well and said, “Scott, there she is!” Meeting her was by far the most incredible part of the first trip, followed by many more heart-filling days. When the time came to fly home, I prayed that this was not the last time I would be with my Ugandan friends.

Fast forward one year, and I am standing in the “pool” watching my Sweet Maria be baptized through blurry, happy, tear-filled eyes. THAT became my new favorite moment in Uganda. This summer was incredible, because I got to reunite with old friends and meet even more new ones. I got to see how much Maria had grown and changed in just one year and feel so proud of the person she is. She’s a funny, sweet, caring, girly girl that keeps her friends laughing, always offers me a spot by her at lunch, and smiles the biggest when she talks about her family and Jesus. I was also one year into loving people with that bold love I asked Jesus for because of my first encounter with the students at God’s Hope in 2016. I couldn’t talk about this trip without talking about a little boy who weaved his way into my heart without a word. Literally.

When primary students are on breaks, they will find us and play until it’s time to get back to class. I was a Macarena fool, so often the kids who spotted me would sing and dance and then run off to find more people. Komya Deniz is a P1 student who, for some reason, found me every day for 25 days and stood by me even when we had all screamed out our last “Heyyyy Macarena!” His friends would leave and he would still be standing by me. He was like a beautiful shadow that smiled all the time and held my hand when we were not dancing or running around. Between his little bit of English and my little bit of Lugandan, we didn’t talk much. At least not with words. But his spirit connected with mine, and I think we both knew we had found a forever friend in each other. Without using a word at all, Jesus had shown me through Deniz that sometimes loving someone is literally just choosing to be there – a gleeful presence in their life that shows how deep a faithful friend can touch a heart. Deniz didn’t need words to love me. I didn’t need words to love him. Godfrey calls it a divine connection, and I agree! Divine connections are very real and very precious.

Seeing the behind-the-scenes work was also a huge blessing. The time and energy it takes to pull students one by one to write letters to their sponsors and organize the ins and outs of a program like this gave me a new appreciation for all aspects of the organization. We got our hands dirty painting some bathrooms and got to deliver dishes and beds to homes. We spent some time at an orphanage and got to love on kids who needed lots and lots. We even got to take our sponsor children to the zoo, which was an incredible time. The work we did was only a drop in the bucket. But I sure am glad to be at least one drop.

Many people from home tried to tell me how great a sacrifice I had made to travel there and serve. I think I shocked them when I responded by saying it is no sacrifice to live in a place with the people of Nakaseke. It is not a sacrifice to smile all day, sleep under a mosquito net, or be a little dusty during dinner. It’s not sacrifice because everything there is slathered in love. Classrooms, homes, huts, bus rides, dinner, breakfast, lunch, and church services are all love built. That isn’t sacrifice. That’s the sweetest taste of heaven I’ve ever had. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to see the effect Simone’s Kids has on the people of Nakaseke (and team volunteers).

I have heard Simone talk about education being hope. I think she is spot on. As pastor Dan would say, “Education without the gospel creates clever devils.” That’s the beauty in Simone’s Kids. Not only are they focused on quality academic education for the students, but they also base their days on the glory and blessings of the Lord. These students don’t take their opportunity for education lightly. They don’t praise God timidly. They are joy filled, talented, incredibly resilient, and intelligent, and some of the dearest friends I have.

Sponsors provide hope through prayer and giving. If I could say anything to someone thinking about joining the team to meet their own sponsor child, I would say “GO!” And tell me about it when you get back!

-Chandler Scott

If you are interested in traveling and volunteering in Uganda, please email Mason Satterfield at mason@simoneskids.com for more information and to submit an application!

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Summer 2017 Team Trip Summary

The summer months are always busy months for Simone’s Kids. Because of the scheduling differences in the Uganda school calendar and the school calendar in the States, May to July is the best time to host teams to visit God’s Hope Schools. Between May 22 and June 30 of this year, we had a total of 25 visitors come and spend time in Uganda. That means that 25 people each made their unique mark on students and truly made a difference in the community of Nakaseke.

One of my favorite things about being the Program Director for Simone’s Kids is that I get to oversee our teams and their time in Uganda. This means I get to watch each person fall in love with the many faces that make up God’s Hope Primary School and God’s Hope High School. We had team members ranging from the age of 1 to the age of 70 (proof that anyone can come with us!), and regardless of age, students cling to our team members and so many special relationships are formed.

While there are many different activities during the team trips, fellowship is one of the most important.  Students don’t forget the love of the Lord that 25 foreigners showed them, even if was only for two-and-a-half weeks. With so many highlights about this summer, here are some of my favorite things that I got to see:

  • Sponsors met the students that they have been sponsoring for the first time.
  • Returning team members picked up exactly where they left off with previously formed friendships.
  • Over 100 students and staff members got baptized and accepted Jesus as their savior.
  • Team members led worship with students at our high school church service.
  • Hearts were transformed in both our team and our students.
  • Families in the community were impacted by Simone’s Kids and our volunteers.
  • Too many jokes and laughs to count
  • Tears and heartbreak that ignited team members to continue believing in the vision of Simone’s Kids

We had so many incredible moments in Uganda this summer, but these were among the most meaningful. There are many opinions on short-term foreign missions and the impact that they actually have, but I am here to say that each and every person that visited with Simone’s Kids made a lasting impact on our students here. I am so grateful for that. Love lasts forever through both the tangible sense and in memories that our students will have for years to come.

Our volunteers this summer were the hands and feet of Jesus while they were here, and our students received love from our teams that they wouldn’t have received anywhere else. Love doesn’t have limits, price tags, or flights that seem too long. Love needs to be shared everywhere – even in the heart of Africa.  I want to thank each person that made the decision to come to Uganda this summer and play a part in the ministry of Simone’s Kids. If you are considering coming on a trip with us in the future, do it. I promise that your life will be changed for the better, and that you will have an experience that you will never forget. If you have any questions about trips or would like to know more, feel free to email me anytime mason@simoneskids.com.

Also, my brother put together a video that captures some of the incredible times that were had in Uganda this summer. Check it out if you want to see what a summer looks like with us! Summer 2017 Video

Mason Satterfield

Director of Programs

Simone’s Kids

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