All God's Children

All God’s children. All one family. I remember writing to my first pen pal growing up. I was eight years old and my pen pal lived in Uganda at Divine Care Ministries. She played soccer like I did and was my age as well. I was a part of a church group that was connected with a set of Ugandan children our age, our brothers and sisters in Christ, through Divine Care Ministries. I remember making Christmas ornaments to sell to raise funds with this group at the age of eight so we could send our pen pals a special Christmas gift. I remember how cool it was to write to someone halfway around the world! How special it was to see my team’s “old,” but still in good shape, soccer uniforms worn by my pen pal and her friends. How special it was to see them enjoying the cleats, soccer balls, and uniforms we sent them. I remember always being fascinated and encouraged to love the Lord more every time Peter & Phoebe Sozi came to speak at my church. Not only was my eight year old self deeply impacted, but the whole Body at our church was stirred and encouraged by Peter & Phoebe’s testimonies and stories of what God was doing in Uganda. 

I learned so much during my time writing to my pen pal. Little did I know that now, almost twenty years later, I’d have the privilege and joy of working for Divine Care Ministries and helping represent a new generation of God’s precious children, much like the pen pal I used to write to as a young girl. May we never forget that God loves children and not discredit the impact that one conversation, one precious moment, one exchange of stories, one Sunday school class, could have on one (or many) child(ren). 

Fast forward to today...It’s now 2021 and a very similar story to mine is taking place in a joy-filled group of K-5th graders at Community Church in Hendersonville, TN. These precious children recently wrote and received letters from their pen pals in Uganda! Take a look and see the power one letter can make. (A huge thank you to Ann & Don Crittenden, Trent Rogan, parents, and the staff of Community Church of Hendersonville, for providing these pictures and encouraging the children of CCH to write to their new friends in Uganda. We’re so grateful for you all!)

Whether you’re a sunday school teacher, youth pastor, small group leader, parent, or family member of a child, your life and influence has a major impact in God’s kingdom. Thank you for sowing into the lives of our children near and far. Your generous support of Divine Care Ministries has enabled us to provide holistic, godly, care to over 1,600 children over the last twenty years. We’re so excited to continue on this adventure of what God is doing in Uganda and the U.S. through Divine Care Ministries!

Then He had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.” Mark 9:36-37

-Joanna Vazquez, DCM Sponsorship Coordinator