Check out the article at this site:

http://www.freep.com/article/20121105/NEWS05/311050126/entrepreneur-New-Frontier-Award-John-F-Kennedy-Library-Foundation

So many faces and life stories……

Street ministry started for me last night when one of the volunteers showed up with a bag of candy to hand out for Halloween as we walked the streets. She had a bag of sugarless candies for a man I see at noontime and is diabetic. I was struck that she remembered someone she has never met personally. A few blocks away a young man came up and said, “Deacon, do you have any gloves?” I do not ever remember seeing this man before but he knew to call me Deacon. I told him that I had been out walking for about 20 minutes myself and my hands were freezing. We do not have gloves yet but we soon will. No way to gage what Mother Nature will bring or when.

A few blocks over, we met a family of six kids and the mother who were on the streets in Greektown. The mother was making calls for someone to take them in. We were able to leave the kids some candy, a sandwich and water. The mother was still talking to someone as we walked away but the kids looked happy.

Around the corner, we ran into a man who said he would love some candy. As he looked in the bag he started to talk about the Saints and Halloween. We had a good 20 minute conversation about how God sent His Son into the world so that we would all be saved. I asked him to pray for us and he immediately took our hands and began to pray an ancient form of prayer of protection and defense over us. As I turned, he asked me to pray for him which I did in another ancient Charismatic form. When I said Amen he looked at me and whispered to me, “We are brothers!” Indeed we are.

A few blocks down we saw some people lying in the window sills of the old Detroit Traffic Court building. As we approached one lady from our group spoke out, “Hello, we are from St Al’s.” From beneath a blanket we heard, “Who the f___ is out there bothering us?” I recognized the voice and said, “Hey girlfriend, how are you?” The blanket flipped back and I heard her say, “Deacon Don is that you?” The woman who I have known for 15 years on the streets jumped up and hugged me and apologized for her first comment! We talked and she asked about my wife and kids whom she knows from their times downtown. We gave her and her friend some food and water. She asked us why we were out so late. She told us it was dark and no longer safe on the streets. I told her that if it wasn’t safe for us then it wasn’t safe for her. She smiled and told me she had been on the streets for years and knew how to survive. I told her to be careful and stay warm tonight. As we walked away she hollered out, “I love you Deacon Don!” and I hollered back, “I love you too girlfriend!”

We were approached by a man asking for food and he was delighted by the offer of the candy. As we talked to him, he told us about a house in the Eastern Market area where several teenaged girls are staying and that they have no food. I promised to swing by there on my way home to check on them. He said he would walk over and meet me there when I arrived. As I was going home, I found the house and he was waiting outside. When I stopped, I heard him yell out, “I told you he was coming! God is good!” I left some sandwiches, candy and water. I will have to call my friends who are the pastor and deacon of the area to check on this house. It reminded me so much of my daughters in the Ugandan slums. What indignities these young girls suffer just to survive.

I later approached four men standing on a corner trying to light their crack pipe. I walked up and told them who I was and commented on how windy it was and that they were having trouble lighting their pipe. They all just stared at me for a while. Then one of the older men put his arm around me and said, “You’re from St Al’s. I have known you for about 20 years now haven’t I?” I had never met this man before but responded with, “Yes I was ordained about 18 years ago so we are coming up on 20 years together.” He was telling his friends that he knew of St Al’s and that I was safe for them. As I was handing out water and sandwiches, one of the men became agitated at me for now getting his water fast enough. One of the young men grabbed him by the arm and said, “Relax the Deacon is working as hard as he can. Don’t you see how old he is?” I looked at him and winked and he winked back. Those winks meant “Thank you” and “You’re welcome.” He respected me and what I was trying to do for them.  He was willing to help me out by calming his companion.

I am constantly amazed at what I hear and see from the homeless on the downtown streets, I find each day that I love them more and more and I hope they are coming to love us more and more as we walk the streets among the people from St Aloysius.

My friend Bill Tulloch visits my daughters in Uganda...

 I did spend some time with Clare, Diana and nine of your daughters.  Everyone sends their love and thanks for your gifts.  Several of your daughters are now "girl-guides" (scouts) and they helped out with the large crowd during Sunday's 25th Jubilee celebration.  They looked proud in their uniforms.  They've come a long way from their nights on the streets!  I also had a chance to visit them in their home, very nice, just not much furniture yet.  Still, a solid floor, dry, electricity, a good roof and a private walled in backyard, not bad by Bwayiise standards.  We also got a chance to visit your daughter Miriam at the teaching school where she lives and studies.  She is very concerned about tuition money for next term.  But then again, as you might expect, I heard about money needs from most everyone.

Thanks Bill for the update from Uganda. If anyone is interested in helping Miriam with m her college education contact me and I will work it out with you

.

A new addition to the House of Jjajja Don in Kampala

Dear Don!

I received a call in the morning on  Tuesday 17^th, July 2012 from the House of the Girls that Fiona Namugerwa had delivered a kicking lively baby boy! Both the boy and the mother are fine. Thanks for your prayers, please!

Gerald

Street Ministry

Sometimes ministry starts after the official ministry ends…..

Last night, after four of us completed the street ministry for St Aloysius, a man approached me with a funny request. I walked through a park we had just been in and he came to me with his hand out and took mine. He said, “What I really want is a hat.” He looked at mine and smiled. I said, “After having just given you two sandwiches, five packets of crackers and a bottle of water, what you really wants it my hat?” He said, “I really need a hat.” I took off my hat and said to him,” This hat has travelled the world with me. You want my hat? Really?” He said, “I really need a hat.” I said, “The pin that is on this hat was given to me as a gift at my ordination 17 years ago. Really, you want my hat.” He said it would truly be a blessing to have a hat. I placed the hat on his head and said, “Then let God give you this blessing. But don’t let me find this in a dumpster or discarded in an alley. You wear that hat.” He promised that he would.

I walked two blocks and passed through another park and was approached by a man I have known now for about a year. He asked how I was doing and started to walk with me. He thanked me for having worked to get him some items for his apartment. However, he needed something else—a rug. I told him who to see someone in the morning and we could work on the rug. He asked where I was headed and said he would walk with me as my body guard! I smiled and said he was welcome to tag along. We talked about our younger years and the deaths of our fathers. He lost his dad at age 16 and I lost mine at age 17. He is 56 years old and I am 57—much to his surprise I am older than him. He told me he would be 57 next week on his birthday and I told him I had just turned 57 the week before. We were both born in July. I said to him, “See we are very much alike. “ He smiled at that. As we walked across the boulevard a man called out to me, “Hey I know you. You’re the guy who hands out the sandwiches.” I said, “Yes I am and I just finished. In fact the guy sitting next to you just a got a bottle of water from me two blocks over.” The man lifted his bottle and said, “Thanks for that by the way.” We chatted for a bit and then I walked on.

My body guard said to me as we approached the little store by the carport. Deacon could you help me out with something in the store? I said, “How long have you known me? Have you ever known me to carry money on me?” He smiled and looked me square in the eyes and said, “A man has to try doesn’t he?” We both laughed and he said, “I’ll see you at mass on Sunday!” I told him I would look forward to seeing him there.

I wonder where the real ministry took place tonight. Was it with the backpack with all the supplies or was it with the men a met along the way walking home? I guess I’ll let God decide on this one.

Future Plans and Costs for My Daughters

Dear Don! Greetings from the House of Jjajja Don at St Kizito! i) Below are the estimated costs of some (used) tailoring sewing machines plus their accessories found in Kampala that can be bought to establish the girls’ workshop or industry: 1.       Sweater / Socks sewing machine (1) at Ug. Shs. 300,000/= 2.       Over-lock machine                          (1)                     350,000/= 3.       Baby-lock machine                          (1)                     450,000/= 4.       Machine straight & zigzag              (1)                     250,000/= 5.       Button-presser                                 (1)                     200,000/= 6.       Buttons (each size)                                                      25,000/= 7.       Tables for manual machines 80,000/@x(4)          320,000/= 8.       Motor                                                (1)                        30,000/= 9.       Scissors                                    3,500/=@x(4)              14,000/= 10.   Threads - Tweads (packets):3,000/=@x(10)            30,000/= 11.   Materials (boxes)                20,000/=@x(10)           200,000/= 12.   Oil                                             1,500/=@x(6)                 9,000/= 13.   Mirrors                                   50,000/=@x(2)            100,000/= 14.   Models                                      5,000/=@x(10)          100,000/= 15.   Tape measures                        5,000/=@x(4)               20,000/= 16.   Electric iron (for stiffening / starch)                            80,000/= 17.   Stools / chairs                        25,000/=@x(4)             100,000/=                                   18.   Charts                                       2,500/=@x(4)                10,000/= 19.   Pins                                                                                      5,000/= 20.   Zippers                                                                              20,000/= 21.   Chalk                                                                                    5,000/=     Total estimated amount for Tailoring Workshop:          2,699,000/= (an equivalent US $ 1,125, when 1US $ is equivalent to Ug.Shs. 2400/=). ii) The original agreement for the house of the girls was signed on 16 September 2011, with the funds you had sent last year 2011. Part of the money was paid for house rent (12 months), which will expire on 16 September 2012. The same funds were used make some house-repairs, to buy mattresses, bedding, and other house requirements, as the girls had nothing on them, as I had informed you earlier on; plus their upkeep as I have been updating you now and again. The best time for the next payment would be August 2012. Note: the Landlord had wanted us this time to raise the house rent to Ug. Shs. 700,000/= monthly, (i.e. Ug. Shs. 8,400,000/= an equivalent of Us $ 3,500), without basic utilities: power i.e. electricity and water payments, which I found to be a lot of money, yet the locality is good with nice security for the girls. I shall have to sit with him and discuss for a bargain. I shall let you know the developments in due course, please. May God bless you! Yours, Gerald.

A Lost Daughter is Found

Dear Don!

We are back from our Annual Priestly Retreat! It was a nice moment of prayer and reflection!

Some good news from the House of Jjajja Don. One of the girl’s (Jackie Nabbumba), who had disappeared from the home, a few weeks after acquiring their home, back to the streets of Bwayiise – Kawempe last year 2011, re-surfaced to the girl’s on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. She decided to stay put in the Home with the rest. She told me on 22 June 2012, that even her little sister, Juliet Nakku would like to come back. Perhaps she is still shy. I am eagerly waiting for that moment to take place.

The monies you wired were credited to KCSC account 05 June 2012.

- The girls had made some 30 packets of candles and have been able to sell some 12 packets.

- I hope, I shall be in position to forward to you the costs of Sewing machines and their accessories, to be able to set up a tailoring workshop for these girls as well and to engage them in some other money generating work. There is enough space in their Home for this exercise and the girls expressed their interest in it.

My heart felt regards to all who offer their support for a difference in love and service!

May God bless you!

Gerald

Can You Help My Daughters in Uganda?

Hullo Don!

To be precise, the daughters need at least US $ 100 per a week for their feeding, and since this is festive season, perhaps some US $ 200.

If we are to move by quarters, it should be:

1 week x US $ 100 x 4 (weeks for a month) x 3 months = US 1,200, i.e. April to June 2012.

Mind you, these are girls with some special needs, e.g. sanitary pads, pants, lotions, etc...

-Fionna and Juliet are expectant mothers within a month's or two months time,

with some special diety.

-Some medical bills especially the little Steve and Shakira (about US $ 50)

-Water and electricity bills

-Regina Ntabadde has registered for Universal Secondery Education in Senior 1;

-Eve Namuli has registered for Universal Primary Education in Primary 7.

All in all, the Daughters for the next 3 months might need some US $ 2500, i.e. April - June 2012.

At least the accountability is available.

God bless!

Gerald

If you are able to help you may send a check made out to St Aloysius with "Uganda" on the memo line to 1234 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226.

Thanks, Don

Sleeping on the Streets of Detroit

A New Bank Account in Uganda!

Hullo Don! I hope you are already in contact with Jeremy’s team from OLGC that visited St Kizito on 8th and 9th March 2012 for some more sharing of their experience within Uganda, and what has emerged from the work of your humble efforts that was started in St Kizito. On 5th February 2012 a Germany couple had come to see me and to tour the pear of Africa. They visited the girls’ Home (Daughters) and were so much impressed by the efforts put in to bring these young girls back to their God given dignity with their little ones. They donated some 50 Euros to buy some clothes for their two children in the Home: Shakira and Stephen. The girls were extremely happy for their visit. On 10th Feb. 2012, the girls had some outside catering services, when they cooked food for some 30 local leaders’ seminar at Ug shs. 125,000/=, after borrowing some Ug. Shs. 100,00/= to buy the foods to be cooked. They got a profit of Ug. Shs. 25,000/=. They shared Ug. Shs. 14,000/= among themselves, and they were able to buy some 14 table forks at Ug. Shs. 2800/=, and some 8 plastic plates at Ug. Shs. 5,600/= and some cooking Charcoal at Ug. Shs. 2,000/=. The remaining balance being Ug.shs. 600/=. Candle making: On 14 February 2012 the girls started making candles as indicated below: 14.02. 2012: 18 packets x 8 candles sold at Ug. 12,800/= 20.02.2012: 16 pkts 28,900/= 23. 28 pkts 47,400/= 27. 24 pkts ? 06.03.2012: 10 pkts 33,200/= 10.03. 23 pkts. 20,800/= N.B.: 1. When I met the girls on 16 March, I asked them to take the above amount (Ug. Shs. 143,100/=) from the candle making project to KCSC SACCO (Bank), and open up Savings account with them immediately, to avoid keeping the money in the house which is very much tempting, which could lead to misappropriation as well. 2. It skipped my pen to record the amount of money from the candles they made on 27 February. 3. Nakafeero Juliet, who is the mother to Stephen of 3 years, is most likely to deliver her child in May 2012. 4. Madina and Phiona are still busy learning hair dressing at Ms Bakka’s Saloon in the neighborhood! May God bless you! Gerald.

El Salvador Trip

This letter was sent by my daughter Megan to those who helped her raise funds for the La Mora Clinic. She adequately describes our trip a few weeks ago. Deacon Don Leach

Thank you all for your support for La Mora Clinic in El Salvador. I wanted to let you know that the trip was a success and my group returned safely and in good spirits!

As a group, we raised over $4,000 for La Mora Clinic! The doctors and nurse expressed their gratitude. They were anxious they would have to close the clinic, but now have funding to remain open through July. We will be continuing our efforts to keep the clinic open after this date. Please know that your support is appreciated and is helping thousands of Salvadorans receive essential medical care. While in El Salvador, my group spent time with the staff of the clinic painting the building with a fresh coat of green. The staff had requested this project and were very happy with the results. It looks like a completely new building!

In addition to our time at the clinic, we spent our trip building relationships with the people of Haciendita Uno, Our Lady of Good Counsel's sister community and one of the communities served by La Mora Clinic. The families of Haciendita Uno opened their homes to host our group for three nights. We met with the leaders of the community to discuss their visions for the future and with the students who are receiving university scholarships to see how their studies are going. The youth of the community taught us a thing or two about “futbol” and the community hosted an informal dance for us on our final night. They schooled us in dancing as well!

We were able to take a group of high school students across Lake Suchitilan to hear the story of the sole survivor of the Massacre of Copapayo during the civil war. He was only ten years old when military forces killed his entire family and community. He emphasized that it was through the grace of God that he was able to survive. His story is one of many Salvadorans who witnessed the harsh realities of war between 1979-1992. Later in the week, we took another group of students to see the historical ruins of Cihuatan. This was the first major city in the area and has been unoccupied since 1500. Even though these sites are not far from the students' communities, they are not able to tour them due to financial restrictions-they cannot pay the 80 cent bus fare or the $1.00 ticket fee..

While staying with Haciendita Uno, we visited the nearby communities of El Roble and Zacamil Dos. These communities are in various stages of obtaining running water in their homes. The job at Zacamil Dos is mostly completed and the 78 families in the community are receiving purified water in their homes. The process at El Roble is still in the planning stages and requires a much more complicated system due to the location of the community to it's water source. It will be expanded in the future to covere the neighboring community of Palo Grande. In addition to simplifying the physical process of obtaining water, the community members benefit from cleaner water free of parasites and bacteria.

Our final day in El Salvador was spent touring the capital and learning about the fight for social justice that continues throughout the nation. We visited the chapel where Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated for being a voice for the poor. We visited the University of Central America where a group of Jesuit priests and two civilians were murdered because of their efforts to speak out about inequality. Their stories are examples of people standing up for their beliefs and refusing to accept violence and injustice. They continue to be symbols and examples of peace and solidarity throughout the country.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to spend the week with our brothers and sisters in El Salvador. I had not visited Haciendita Uno in over two years and it was great to see the advances the community has made and to see how much the children have grown! The clinic is a vital service for the people of Haciendita Uno and over 34 other rural communities. On behalf of myself, the clinic staff, and the communities served by the clinic, I thank you again for your financial support.---Megan Leach

News from the House of Jjajja Don in Kampala Uganda

Greetings from your God-daughters in the House of Jjajja Don, who are filled with gratitude to you, for enabling them, to recognize their dignity in the community as truly human beings.

The girls purchased some materials to make candles on Thursday 26 January 2012, including a pack of wax; aluminum source-pans; candle mold; polythene sheets, etc.. and handled over to the girl, to start the candle making project. The girls were so excited, and on 10 February 2012, a volunteer lady assisted me in instructing them how to make candles without charging us any coin. Some pictures will be forwarded to you by Matthias.

Allow me now to update you about some achievements these girls have been able to register in some few past days.

1. These girls impressed me greatly, when they offered some outside catering services to a number of 60 people who had attended a meeting at St Kizito on 23 January 2012. Some funds were borrowed to buy certain foods, and hired some needed utensils, some cooking charcoal; transport for 3 days, and they were able to get some payment from the services they offered. Each one of the girls received about $7.00 for themselves. The net profit of their catering services for the Home was an equivalent of US $ 104.

2. On 27 January 2012 they offered some other catering services to 20 people and got some funds again. This time each individual received about $3.50 each and about $25.50 for the Home.

3. On 30 January 2012 they bought some utensils for their catering services in case chance avails them with an opportunity, namely:

a) Some 6 small serving dishes

b) 3 dozens of plates

c) Sugar bowels

d) 2 dozens of Cups

Incomes from catering services on 23 Jan and 27 Jan minus the expenditures for some utensils on 30 Jan gives a net profit of $36 USD and the use of good utensils for future catering jobs.

Such is some interesting news from your Daughters!—God’s Blessings to you, Gerald.

I was able to call the girls this morning and let them know I had received this information from Fr Gerald. They were all so excited about the three business ventures they have embarked on: Banana Chip Production, Candle Production and Catering Services. I told them how proud I am of all of them and that they are in our hearts and prayers each day. They give their love and prayers to all who are helping them succeed.