Hello!
I pray this letter finds you doing well! As you may already know, the Lord provided me the wonderful opportunity to travel to Uganda, Africa last summer. There our team completed a four-room schoolhouse for orphan children in 3 1/2 days. Our team had the opportunity to interact and love on the children in the villages there. It was truly an amazing sight to watch all the children flock to our van and wave as we drove through the villages. The African people were so welcoming and loving. We also got the opportunity to visit the Watoto Church and these services were by far one of my favorite parts of the trip. There was such a strong presence of the Holy Spirit there and such a freedom in worship. I absolutely love their untamed, unhindered, unashamed, energetic worship of God Almighty! The individuals there taught me so much. They gave me so much more than I could have ever given them. They are so poor in the eyes of the world, but when you see them through the eyes of Christ, they are so rich in faith. (James 2:5) They must depend on the Lord because literally in most cases He is all they have. What a way to live life, it's so inspiring and amazing to watch unfold right before your eyes.
I am writing this letter today to inform you that I firmly believe the Lord is calling me into missions, with the African nation as the heart beat of this adventure and I desire for you to be part of this incredible journey of faith the Lord and I are traveling together. I knew before I left Uganda and still know today that I would return, I was just not sure in what capacity. So, the Lord has provided what I believe is the opportunity of a lifetime. I have been offered a position through Watoto Ministries, which is the ministry I traveled to Africa with last summer. Watoto is a ministry in Uganda, Africa. The ministry is designed to help meet the needs of orphans whose parents and/or caregivers have passed away from AIDS. The mission of Watoto is to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders by placing parentless children into loving families. In this safe and secure environment, these precious children have their physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs met so that they develop the essential moral values and life skills that will enable them to make a significant and lasting impact on the future of their country. Watoto believes it's not the government's responsibility to care for these children. While governments may be able to feed empty stomachs, or clothe naked bodies, there's not a government in the world that can put Christ and His love in the heart of a child. Only we, the church, can do that. James 1:27 presents us with a challenge. It says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Watoto is doing just that.
Currently, Watoto has been working through some restructuring within their ministry. While they have been working through this, some positions have become available. One of those positions is mine. My understanding of my job description is still developing and will continue to, however, right now the position I am planning to fill is a personal assistant position under an individual from the UK who is the director of the Facilities Management Department within the Ministry. I will have to raise my own support, much like a missionary, for a minimum of three years in order to reside in Uganda while I work for Watoto. It is however a possibility that Watoto will be able to begin paying my salary a year and a half into my three year commitment while I'm in Uganda. Generally when individuals first begin working for Watoto they enter as a volunteer while having to raise their own financial support. That is not uncommon.
If you would like to assist in this ministry through supporting me there are several ways you can become involved. First and foremost, you can pray for the following:
1. Pray for the precious children in Uganda, pray for Watoto Ministry as they seek out these orphans and provide them a home, an education, and opportunities to plant the seed of Christ's unfailing love in their little hearts, and pray that God would continue to use this ministry to raise up Christian leaders.
2. Pray that the Lord would prepare me spiritually, emotionally, and physically before and during to reside in Uganda for approximately three years. Also pray for friends and family that I must leave behind.
3. Pray that the Lord would continue to give me wisdom and discernment as He lights my path before me, then the courage to follow Him wherever He leads, whatever the cost.
4. Pray that the Lord will provide the financial support I need to accomplish this mission I believe He is calling me to.
I would challenge you to prayerfully consider how the Lord may be leading you to assist in this life-changing endeavor. I wholeheartedly believe the Lord has individuals ready to come forward already, so pray and ask Him if you are one of those individuals.
Secondly, you can be involved financially by partnering with this Ministry and I. I have to raise $10,000 upfront in order to leave for Uganda, Africa. This will include the cost of airfare, approximately $5,000 will go towards transportation via a personal care to travel around the city in, housing, and other miscellaneous costs. Then, once I reside in Uganda, I will need to have a steady commitment from a combination of either individuals or churches that agree to support me by sending a total amount of $2,000 a month. This financial support is equivalent to my salary and consists of the finances I will have to live on. Each month, approximately $1,000 of that $2,000 a month will go toward housing. The rest will be for food and other miscellaneous costs.
As far as a timeline is concerned, as soon as the Lord provides the prayer and financial support for me to go, I will go. You can make checks payable to Charity Gray. You can mail your financial gift to:
Charity Gray
4768 Selmore Road
Ozark, MO 65721
I would also like to encourage you if you feel so led, Watoto also has set in place a sponsorship program if you are interested in supporting an orphan in Uganda financially. You can visit: www.watoto.com if you are interested and want more information.
Thanks you so much for your time in reading this letter. I sincerely appreciate your prayerful consideration! There is much work to do in the kingdom! God Bless You!
In Christ's perfect love,
Charity
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(Please circle below how you would like to contribute, copy and print this portion off this letter, enclose, and mail with your financial contribution. Even if you are not planning on sending a financial gift, I would still like to know whether or not you intend to support this ministry and I by prayer. If the Lord so leads you to give financially, here are your choices:
I would like to strictly be a prayer support (Because without you, ministry doesn't happen!)
I would like to make a one-time contribution that will go toward the upfront cost of $10,000
I am making a commitment to give $____ a month for 3 years
(In making a monthly commitment, you are agreeing that you understand that you are assisting in paying my salary for 3 years, which is the money I will have to live on while I reside in Uganda. In the event that you are no longer able to make a monthly contribution, please notify me immediately so this portion of funds can be found elsewhere.)
I would like to make a one-time contribution that will go toward the upfront cost of $10,000 and I would like to make a monthly commitment of $____.
Other________________________________________________________________
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