Our partner organization, REACH International has been fundraising to build a nursery school in Uganda. Our on-site partner agency, Child2Youth Foundation in Uganda, led by Steven Ssenyonjo, is ready to begin building!!!

 

Fifteen years ago, two of our volunteers, Krystle Botermans and Mark Lupton-Grenon, of Hamilton region, went to Uganda on behalf of REACH to work with Child2Youth. Krystle and Mark, only 19 yrs old, spent a month with Steven and Margaret (his sweet wife) and worked with the children there.

 

That is when Krystle discovered her passion for missions. Just a few years after her trip to Uganda, Krystle was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. The doctors were only able to help her to manage symptoms and keep pain at bay. But on March 23 of this year, Krystle went home to the Lord, at the ripe old age of 33 … But not after expressing her deepest desire to see the youngest children helped. Our sweet Steven was so saddened by learning of her failing health that he informed Krystle that he wanted to build a nursery school in her memory. So in lieu of flowers, she asked that donations be made to support this effort.

In Uganda, children start school at the age of 2. And in one of the most impoverished communities, the nearest nursery school is 5 miles away. So children in this community, ages 2-5 years old were walking together 5 miles each way, back and forth to school. 

 

This is wholly unacceptable.

 

Our faithful Steven obtained a quote to build a nursery school and informed us of the low cost of $30,000. From the time of the obituary to the funeral held on April 2 (just 1 wk after the obituary was released), we had raised $20,000!!

We are now up to $26,000 of the $30,000 required for the school! This is enough for the construction to get started!!!

 

We are so thrilled for this amazing move of God.

 

We will be visiting the school in November when we go, and whoever is willing, we will be offering our services to help finish the work.

 

And when Krystle’s family and friends come to visit (likely in February, but they are more than welcome to join in November), we will be visiting the school, they will get a chance to volunteer and work with the children, and walk in Krystle’s footsteps from when she was last there, and have a chance to feel close to her heart again.

 

Art Barron and I are beyond touched and moved that we have been able to be a small part in this process. And I am honoured to be able to help them plan this trip to visit where Krystle first fell in love with missions. Mark is taking up the torch to carry on the work and passion that they both have for missions. And we respect and appreciate him so much for that.

 

If you would like to help us get the rest of the way to our goal, please either donate or promote this fundraiser to your community.

Here is the website with the fundraiser information:  https://krystleskids.com/