Julie Voelz - Divine Child Finance Director
Approximately five years ago, my brother John McCarthy, was on the telephone with me and told me about an orphanage he had recently become involved with helping financially and it is located in Uganda. It caught my interest when he said it was The Divine Child Care Orphanage. We had grown up across the street from the church we regularly attended that was also called Divine Child. Somehow that sparked my interest and I listened to what he had to say about it. He told me he found out about it on social media and how a man named Jason Leist had become involved with helping out this ministry after his son was diagnosed with brain cancer and later became healed. I was interested in the story as more details emerged about the orphanage and the director, Yusufu Ssemanda. I found it very interesting how this Christian man who was once an orphan, wanted to help other orphans in the poor country of Uganda.
I am a Christian woman and have been involved with many charities before, but this one was completely different than any other charities I have supported before. This man’s story and desperate need for help with these very poor orphan street kids, who received no support from their country’s government, really affected me and caught my attention and my sympathy. I told my brother I was interested in the project after he mentioned that Jason and him had already purchased the land for the new orphanage site. That night while I was trying to sleep, many thoughts about this orphanage kept coming up in my mind and I couldn’t really sleep. I thought maybe God was trying to reach out to me and make me aware of this dire situation that needed hope and help! I tossed and turned that night as I was bombarded with all these thoughts of these poor, hopeless, starving children trying to rely on God for their lives and existence. I thought about the many blessings I have in my life that I am thankful for and that I could help give financially to this ministry. I prayed about this ministry and for direction and contacted my brother to get more information about how to help and donate to the orphanage. My husband was in agreement also for us to help the children at the Uganda orphanage. We decided we could help out and pay their monthly rent before the new orphanage was built. I found the best way to transmit money online from my account to the director’s account to pay their monthly rent. I also got their address and sent over different items for the children. It takes a long time for them to receive mail and packages from the USA and it’s very expensive, but very much appreciated by everyone at the orphanage!
I got to know The Divine Child Care Orphanage Director, Yusufu Ssemanda, over time and thru FB and IM. His daily FB postings about his faith in God, Bible verses,
beautiful children’s grateful faces and the many challenges they face daily have really inspired me to continue to help them with this Christian ministry. As a result of trusting God for participating in this ministry, I have had multiple, successful fundraisers at my church, in my neighborhood, Etsy, and currently a Divine Scone Mix part-time business. I also continue to run the GoFundMe fundraisers online and every dollar received is sent to the orphanage director. The orphanage has been built with the many donations from many other people also with dormitories, restrooms, showers, a kitchen, garden and a well with solar power. We bought the director a motorcycle, computer and a newer cell phone. We have bought clothes and shoes for everyone at the orphanage with the help of others. We continue to support their many medical needs, schooling and food costs, which continue to increase due to inflation. There are currently 30 children and about 4-5 adults at the orphanage. Unfortunately, the other donor’s support has been dwindling and the bulk of the orphanage costs is on the few donors who consistently support the orphanage. We are hoping to get the orphanage to eventually become a non-profit status 501 C3. That is also an expensive endeavor but one we hope to achieve in the future.
Lastly, I want to mention my good Christian friend, Melanie McGehee, who lives in my neighborhood. Her family also supports a family in Uganda. A couple years ago she was going to visit her family friends in Uganda and also agreed to deliver a computer and a suitcase full of books, supplies, toys and treats along with food to the orphanage. She got to meet the director and all the children. She even served them lunch. She got to see the orphanage firsthand to see that indeed this orphanage was for real and did exist. This was important for many to witness her visit firsthand and saw all the photos on FB. Since then the orphanage has had other visitors and hope to have many more! It was amazing to me that my good friend also supported a family in Uganda and was willing to help out!
We continue to support the orphanage to this day by the grace of God. The Lord has made this ministry possible and all of us glorify Him and the help He has given!
Trusting God with this ministry has made my faith grow and I have done many things I never would have done and experienced if it weren’t for this ministry. It took a leap of faith and listening to God’s direction along with prayer and the support of many other Christians to make this happen and I am very thankful for this opportunity to serve the Lord thru serving others. This is a labor of love for our family and the orphanage offers hope to street kids in Uganda by giving them a place to live, food, medicine, and education to change the course of their lives.
I am a Christian woman and have been involved with many charities before, but this one was completely different than any other charities I have supported before. This man’s story and desperate need for help with these very poor orphan street kids, who received no support from their country’s government, really affected me and caught my attention and my sympathy. I told my brother I was interested in the project after he mentioned that Jason and him had already purchased the land for the new orphanage site. That night while I was trying to sleep, many thoughts about this orphanage kept coming up in my mind and I couldn’t really sleep. I thought maybe God was trying to reach out to me and make me aware of this dire situation that needed hope and help! I tossed and turned that night as I was bombarded with all these thoughts of these poor, hopeless, starving children trying to rely on God for their lives and existence. I thought about the many blessings I have in my life that I am thankful for and that I could help give financially to this ministry. I prayed about this ministry and for direction and contacted my brother to get more information about how to help and donate to the orphanage. My husband was in agreement also for us to help the children at the Uganda orphanage. We decided we could help out and pay their monthly rent before the new orphanage was built. I found the best way to transmit money online from my account to the director’s account to pay their monthly rent. I also got their address and sent over different items for the children. It takes a long time for them to receive mail and packages from the USA and it’s very expensive, but very much appreciated by everyone at the orphanage!
I got to know The Divine Child Care Orphanage Director, Yusufu Ssemanda, over time and thru FB and IM. His daily FB postings about his faith in God, Bible verses,
beautiful children’s grateful faces and the many challenges they face daily have really inspired me to continue to help them with this Christian ministry. As a result of trusting God for participating in this ministry, I have had multiple, successful fundraisers at my church, in my neighborhood, Etsy, and currently a Divine Scone Mix part-time business. I also continue to run the GoFundMe fundraisers online and every dollar received is sent to the orphanage director. The orphanage has been built with the many donations from many other people also with dormitories, restrooms, showers, a kitchen, garden and a well with solar power. We bought the director a motorcycle, computer and a newer cell phone. We have bought clothes and shoes for everyone at the orphanage with the help of others. We continue to support their many medical needs, schooling and food costs, which continue to increase due to inflation. There are currently 30 children and about 4-5 adults at the orphanage. Unfortunately, the other donor’s support has been dwindling and the bulk of the orphanage costs is on the few donors who consistently support the orphanage. We are hoping to get the orphanage to eventually become a non-profit status 501 C3. That is also an expensive endeavor but one we hope to achieve in the future.
Lastly, I want to mention my good Christian friend, Melanie McGehee, who lives in my neighborhood. Her family also supports a family in Uganda. A couple years ago she was going to visit her family friends in Uganda and also agreed to deliver a computer and a suitcase full of books, supplies, toys and treats along with food to the orphanage. She got to meet the director and all the children. She even served them lunch. She got to see the orphanage firsthand to see that indeed this orphanage was for real and did exist. This was important for many to witness her visit firsthand and saw all the photos on FB. Since then the orphanage has had other visitors and hope to have many more! It was amazing to me that my good friend also supported a family in Uganda and was willing to help out!
We continue to support the orphanage to this day by the grace of God. The Lord has made this ministry possible and all of us glorify Him and the help He has given!
Trusting God with this ministry has made my faith grow and I have done many things I never would have done and experienced if it weren’t for this ministry. It took a leap of faith and listening to God’s direction along with prayer and the support of many other Christians to make this happen and I am very thankful for this opportunity to serve the Lord thru serving others. This is a labor of love for our family and the orphanage offers hope to street kids in Uganda by giving them a place to live, food, medicine, and education to change the course of their lives.