What’s happening?
What a sweet, yet exhausting, month and a half it’s been in America for me.
Here’s a glimpse of my reality right now.... Things that I’ve known my whole life are now somehow becoming overwhelming and overstimulating in the oddest of ways. Things that should be second nature to me begin to become foreign and confusing as time continues to pass by with more years spent in Uganda and less time spent in America. Words I’ve known for my entire life are lost in translation and I think of the Lugandan word or the Ugandan version of English vs the American English I’ve known my whole life. Who pulls up to a gas station and drives away (without gas) crying because there’s too many choices and it’s just too overwhelming that day...that would be me, but I’m somehow getting used to it by now. (In Uganda we don’t pump our own gas. The green handle is for petrol and the black one is for diesel. There’s 1 pump, 1 type, no options other than Petrol or Diesel.....why are there so many options and colors and handles here?) Who walks into the grocery store for potatoes and gives up on what you’re going to cook because there’s just too many options of potatoes...we have 1 in Uganda, it’s Irish, usually still covered in the dirt it came from. (Well I guess technically 2 if you count sweet potatoes, which aren’t orange unless specially grown, the local ones are white). But, it’s not really about the potatoes at all, it’s just all so much, it’s overstimulating. Then the potato situation just turns into a spiral, because, really, why are there so many choices for potatoes? It’s bright, it’s cold, it’s big, and there are so many options in the supermarket. So many options of literally everything. Why is it so hard this time? The cars go faster here and the roads are much smoother (that part about the smooth roads is actually really nice!). There’s law and order to driving, except those people who are too distracted to pay attention, which makes driving more chaotic and challenging. But, I’d rather drive in Uganda any day...well not in Kampala, but in Jinja and other reasonably sized places. It’s just so busy and fast and backwards here now to me. The opposite side of the car, the opposite side of the road, and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve turned on my wipers for my indicator and vice versa. I’ve got into, or close to getting into, the wrong side of the car several times, then I realize I can’t really drive without a steering wheel. I feel like a foreigner in my passport country these days and right at home in my host country (of almost 6 years), Uganda. It’s hard to explain, even I don’t understand sometimes. I just know things are harder, and most people don’t and won’t understand how that feels. So, I’ve learned to walk away when I just can’t figure out which gas I need, or which potato I want, and try again another day, let someone help me, or just change trajectory like I’m used to doing daily, in Uganda. How weird is it to be lost in the place you called home for 36 years and have only been away from for almost 6. That’s just the honest truth and the reality I’m in currently.
That’s some of the exhausting, but the sweet parts are what keep me going. Here are just a few of the many sweet moments:
I’ve been able to spend the most precious time with my sweet friend, her husband, and their new baby. It’s life-giving and peaceful, refreshing and relaxing, respite and refueling for my soul.
I’ve been able to reconnect with current donors, prayer partners, and encouragers, from over the past few years, and give the most beautiful updates of what God is doing and continues to do in Uganda at the ministry HE so graciously let me be a part of. I’ve cried with them, prayed with them, and been prayed for by them. I’m not alone in this. God has connected me with so many amazing people over the last, almost 6 years, who walk with me. I’m grateful.
I’ve been able to connect with so many new prayer partners and donors this trip, as well. People who have just heard about EHM for the first time, some who have been connected to me by others, and some who walked into my favorite coffee shop, Noah’s, one morning for coffee and left with a heart for Uganda and Experience Hope.
I spent 2 weeks with my precious family in Florida who continue to fight with me, for me, and alongside me. I got to meet so many new faces, friends, prayer partners, and supporters. Word has spread like wildfire. God is moving! Praise HIM!
Bosco and Kodet finally graduated the first weekend in October! These are the 2 young men who finished vocational school this past December, completed their internship from Jan- March, and have worked full time at the sugar cane factory just outside of Jinja, since then. They are providing for themselves in every aspect, and both are saving money monthly with both me and the bank. We are so very proud of them! Universities and Vocational schools here typically have graduation almost a year after completing their program, but these 2 were so excited to finally wear a cap and gown, walk the graduation line, and be handed their certificates, that they’ve been counting down the days. This is such a huge accomplishment for them both, and something neither of them ever thought was possible. A hopeless cycle of defeat turned into hope and a successful start on a new life path. Praise you Father for your goodness in Bosco and Kodet’s lives. I was really sad to miss such a monumental milestone for these young men, but I got to video call them and congratulate them after they walked.
Our primary school, secondary school, and special needs school all 3 had third term visitation day on the exact same day this term. That has never happened before, but I’m so very thankful for a willing and able team who divided and conquered so that every student was represented, loved on, and provided for, on that very day. Joy went to the school for special needs, was able to attend prayer day, talk to all of the teachers, find out how Edwin is doing, and look at all of the cool new crafts he’s learning to make. He’s adjusting so well and we are so proud of him. This new school is such a great fit for him! He even told her he wants to just stay there on all holidays because he loves it so much! Ben headed an hour outside of Jinja one way to the Primary school. He also attended the candidate prayer day for the 3 students who are testing the first week in November and said it was very sweet. I was able to video call with him for a brief moment until his network froze and I lost him. He also got to see all of the other 21 primary students, put out a few fires, talk to all of the teachers, and make a plan for the rest of the term. Overall, most of our students did great on their midterm report cards We still have a few who are a bit behind, but we pray that over the long 3rd term holiday we can do some extra lessons and get them up to speed for next year. Moses boarded a taxi and went an hour the other direction for secondary school visitation day. He was also able to video call me for a few minutes so I could say hi to everyone, pray for our candidates who just started testing and hear about everything that’s going on with them. Overall all of our secondary students continue to improve on their grades. We didn’t get reports for 5 since they were preparing for their big end of year exams, but we pray they to the best they can on them and we can continue to find a way forward for their education journey. I’m so very grateful for my team who continue to go above and beyond for the ministry and the young men we work with. It’s been really sweet watching them all grow and build confidence over the last few years. It’s a breath of fresh air for me, for sure.
Joy and Ben also did 2 more home visits for young men who will be going to school in January. We have 4 new guys all going to primary school next year and they’ve been working so hard to earn this opportunity. I’m very thankful that God continues to go before all of us when we do these home visits and village visits. So many things could go wrong, and we’ve been a part of some scary situations more than once, but God continues to open the doors, provide the way, and protect all of us as we go.
Joy and Moses were also able to reunite another young man with his family, and he actually chose to stay home. He’s been on the streets for more than 15 years from the timeline we can calculate. He’s continued to huff fuel, always remain high, and just remain numb to change until the last 6 months. He’s been trying so hard to clean up, change his life, and do better so that he could go back to the village to help his mother. His village is pretty far away, so we won’t be able to regularly visit him, but Joy got the contact of several neighbors and the mom so we can call and check in, anytime. We pray that Reagan continues to seek the Lord, desires true change in his life, and works hard to stay sober and healthy.
Apart from all of that travel around Uganda, I’m also getting reports of more and more boys coming to bible studies, more and more boys coming for medical care, and more and more boys coming to seek hope in really anything.
Thank you, Lord, for these young men that you’ve entrusted me with. I’m humbled daily at what God continues to do. Something that would never be possible without God’s hands all over it, there’s no doubt about that.
What’s to come?
One of our S4 secondary students (about the equivalent of 12th grade) came home on Oct 29th and the other comes home on Nov 3rd. The way that testing works for candidate classes is, once you finish your tests, you go home and wait a long holiday for the results, which are released sometime in March of the following year, before moving on up the education ladder. It’s a long and sometimes painful wait for some of these students. S4 (we have 2 this year) are always the first students to finish, followed by Primary 7 (we have 3 this year, this is about like finishing 8th grade/middle school) on Nov 5th, and then finally S6 (we have 3 this year, this is upper level high school somewhat like general ed in a community college, but less), who will finish sometime around the first week in December. All other students will come home end of Nov/beginning of Dec as well, except the university and vocation students who come home around mid Dec. This is always the most disorganized school pick up schedule at end of a term, but again, I’m so thankful for a great team to divide and conquer with! Dad will get to see the wrangling of wild cats first hand, very quickly, as we hit the ground running!
Dad and I will be traveling to Uganda on Nov 11th. We’ve already had several flight changes and even a date change due to some airline restrictions happening in Africa at the moment. We pray that everything stays stable and flows smoothly so we can head out of here and get back to my home without any further issues. I’ve been working on packing everything that was purchased off of the Amazon wish list (THANK YOU!!), a lot of great medical supplies that were donated by several people (THANK YOU!), some goodies for me, and also prepping, preparing, and packing my dad up for his 2 month stay in Uganda! I guess if we forget something he’ll be sporting tribal wear and be the talk of the town!
Planning and prepping are underway for an all parent/student meeting in early December when most everyone is out of school. We do this yearly to keep parents/families in the loop about expectations and rule reminders for holiday times, camp updates, and holiday programs. Part of our programs include reuniting families with their children, in whatever way we can safely do so.
We are also planning and prepping for youth camp and Bible Boot camp, as well as our big Christmas party for all of the street kids in town. November and December are both filling up very quickly on the calendar! But big things are happening and big things are coming and I can’t wait to see how God continues to reach these young men, day after day, through Experience Hope Ministries.
Thank you!
Thank YOU! Thank you for praying for us and with us! Thank you for donating, so that we can provide the great needs to these young men, and families, that otherwise aren’t available to them.
Thank you to those who donate to help us keep our boys in school, and add new students every year. Something that the students and families have given up on because of the great expense, but something so important to better increase sustainability in the community and lives of these young men..
Thank you to those who give faithfully to help us continue to do daily bible studies and feeding projects, keep boys housed, and provide both basic and life saving medical care for each and every street connected child/young adult we encounter. Something that they can’t access otherwise.
These seemingly simple acts of love are life changing for the guys we work with. They now have a hope and a future in Jesus and in life in general, and for that we are grateful.
And, thank you. Thank you to those who help to support us for such a time as this and to those who pray for us regularly. God is working in mighty ways here in Uganda, and we strive to answer those calls as He leads us. Whether it’s new territory or something we see day in and day out, we continuously pray for wisdom and discernment to go where God leads, prayerfully trusting that when we step God will provide everything we need to take the next step forward.
Katonda Mulungi! (God is so good!)
How can you help?
Prayer requests:
Prayers for Dad and I as we travel back to Uganda soon. Safe and smooth travels, health and endurance for him, and smooth transitions back for us both. Also pray for all of his very important medications to have no issues getting through TSA in the carry on and safely with us to Uganda.
Pray for God to continue to give myself and my staff wisdom and resources to help the many medical cases we continue to have dropped at our gate. For both physical and spiritual healing for the boys and strength to not go back to the streets.
Prayers for my team in Uganda as they continue handling everything with such grace and efficiency as I’m gone.
Prayers for all of our candidates as some of them finish testing, some begin, and some are already out for their long 3rd term holiday. For wisdom in testing, and wise choices to be made while at home for so long.
Pray for more seed sowers who can help partner with us to do the work that GOD has called us to. It’s only by HIS will that we are here doing what we are doing and we need financial partners to do this work. Tangible things such as a safe room, food, school fees, and medical care show these young men that they’re not given up on, like so many people in Uganda tell them. Education and Medical are typically our biggest expenses and both are life changing for these young men in so many ways.
How is God calling you to partner with us?
Through prayer? Through financial giving? We believe that even as just one of these young men changes, there’s many more ready to start a new life also, due to the testimony of the one. God calls some of us to go, some of us to stay, some of us to give and some of us to pray. Where do you fit in? Please consider joining us in bringing hope and healing to these precious young men! So many in their community have given up on them, but we know that God has called them to more!
TAX DEDUCTIBLE CHECKS mailed to:
GoSendMe Global
PO Box 913106
Sherman, TX 75091
(Make checks out to “GoSendMe Global” and include a note WITH the check-that it is for me, Tara Henson, Uganda/ Experience Hope Ministries)
VENMO: @Tara-Henson-1
PAYPAL: @TaraHenson
ZELLE: thens1213@gmail.com
How to Connect
EMAIL: thens1213@gmail.com
Isaiah 1:17 (CSB)
“Learn to do what is good.
Pursue justice.
Correct the oppressor.
Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.”
