What an exciting time it has been preparing for the Tree of Wisdom children to begin school!  Sr Rosemary, Mr Komakec and many others have been busily gathering supplies.  With 87 children now adopted into the program the lists are long.  The items include uniforms, shoes, book bags, notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, etc.  Remember how excited we all were preparing for our first day of school?  Imagine how happy and hopeful these children are with their new supplies that represent hope for a future.

Some of the things we in America don’t think about when returning to school are also included.  A new plate and cup will be provided so that the children can take part in the food provided at the school.  We are also providing bars of soap for the children–one for bathing and one for laundry.  Good hygiene is the first step toward good health.  Finally, mosquito nets will be provided to each of the children to reduce their exposure to the mosquitoes that cause malaria–a disease that takes more lives every year in Africa than HIV.

Allow me to take this opportunity to share with you the story of Rosemary, a lovely young woman we had the pleasure of meeting on our last trip to Uganda.  When Rosemary was born, she was abandoned by her father,  and her mother was unable to care for her. The mother asked the Sisters at St Monica to care for her child.  They willingly accepted, along with Catherine, the biological sister of Sister Rosemary.  Young Rosemary grew up beautifully and last weekend graduated with high honors from the University.  She is now volunteering a lot of her time helping with the Tree of Wisdom project.  She says, ” I am one of them.  Without the help of the Sisters, I never could have come to this place in my life. This is my opportunity to share my gifts with them.”  She has provided tremendous inspiration to these children, as she travels from place to place telling them her story.  Her example shows us all the difference that love and support can make in the life of a child.  Congratulations to Rosemary for her hard work and dedication, and for being a beacon of light!!  Our hope is that the Tree of Wisdom children will follow in her footsteps.

The first day of school is February 1.  Please say a special prayer for the children on this day.

With gratitude,

Monique

TOW children dressed in Christmas clothes for school