DesanaGiving October News

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Hello Visitor

It has been a long time since we sent a newsletter. There are so many wonderful things going on in the Desana World. God is truly an awesome God. He continues to bless us daily. The children in our ministries are finding out about this wonderful caring loving God through Kathy and our volunteers.

This newsletter reaches some people that do not get a chance to read Kathy's blogs on our site so I am going to add her latest blog here for you to enjoy. You can read all of her blogs here.

If you want more information about any of our projects, please contact me. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and may God Bless You!

George Houk
Chairman
email: ghouk@desanagiving.org

Kathy's latest blog.......

time flies...sometimes

Kathy Houk

it's hard for me to believe that i will be homeward bound in three weeks....i have so much to do before i head back to tennessee. i really want to scream YIKES at the top of my lungs, but i don't think that will help me too much....maybe just give me a sore throat. the past month has been AMAZING in such a positive way. i have dug deep and found i can do more than i thought i could, and do it with more compassion and conviction and JOY than from day 1 of Desana Uganda. YAY ME! George said that God had to pass me through some difficult times to make me stronger, and yep, here i am....not exactly Wonder Woman, but definitely not the same person who began this journey back in January.

2012 Project Updates

This year is almost over. It is hard to believe. When Kathy and I headed to Uganda in January we had no idea what this year was going to be like. Oh, we had a budget for each of our countries and a plan for them but our Uganda presence was just beginning. Kathy had been given a calling to start a ministry in Kampala for Street Children. People kept trying to talk her out of doing this project. The funny thing was, she had not been lead to the children...... yet. She had a calling to 'Feed The Children' .... later she found out it meant more than just supplying food. She now feeds them emotionally, spiritually and physically. She has become someone in their lives that they have never had before. A role model. A woman of God. Someone who REALLY shares God's Love with them. From January until now her ministry has really taken shape (read Time Flies -- Sometimes). Kathy oversees all of our Uganda Projects and does it all by herself. She really knows Kampala and is even learning a little Lugandan.

Russia

Russia continues to provide for the children in the orphanage system by our Russia Project Director - Elena Antropyanskaya Hibbler Elena will be in the US in November and we are planning a Russian Dinner Party in Martindale Texas. If you want to attend, please contact us for more information.

Here is the latest report from Elena.

Kind Heart Shelter

Elena Antropyanskaya Hibbler

Another year has passed at the Kind Heart Shelter. Lots of things have happened – both good and bad. After the older kids had graduated from our Club, we started a group of little ones. Child Protection Services gave us a list of families that need help "to stay afloat". There is no way we can take all the needy ones in – our little apartment can house a limited number of children. Right now there are 23 children in the younger group. Each one of them has some problems – their intellectual development is always below the norm, they find it hard to make friends, do not know how to behave themselves, can often act aggressively towards other children. It does not take much to understand that it is only by love and care that we are able to help and cure them. Most of them have never seen any love at home and for them to know that there is a place in the world where they are welcome is a great revelation and help. We do not force God onto them but always explain that He does care, He does love and provide for us through the hands of other people.

US Projects

Kathi and Brian Gilleland continue to run our Nashville Project. It too has taken on a lot more this year. The Nashville Project needs no supervision. Kathi and Brian set the budget and raise the funds (hey, do you want to help?).

Desana Nashville will be providing a Pumpkin Patch Trip for the children of Kirkpatrick EOS. The trip is on October 26th. We need chaperones! What a wonderful trip to take these children on a bus ride...... many have never been out of their East Nashville neighborhood .... and then end up in the country.... animals, pumpkins, and lots and lots of fun.

The Nashville project would like to request your help. If you would be interested in helping Kathi and Brian in any way please contact Kathi. kgilleland@desanagiving.org

Kathi and Brian are improving and enriching lives of children in East Nashville. Watch for a full report in next month's newsletter.

Peru Projects

Mike's Mission - Mike is fully recovered from his surgery earlier this year and will conduct his dental mission in December (instead of in March 2013). The community Paucarbamba (this will be the 3rd year) is showing great improvements in oral health. It proves that regular dental check ups and proper oral hygiene really do make a difference.

Mike was sucessful in getting his dental mission approved by the University of Nebraska School of Dentristry. Watch for his report in the January 2013 Issue.

OSF (Dentists Without Borders) held their campaign in August. There were more dentists than ever before. This campaign was in the northern parts of Peru. OSF has been recognized by the Peruvian Government for the great work they are doing. Desana is proud to be a part of this team. Thank you Vladi and Hector for putting this together each year. And thank you to all the dentists who volunteered.

Uganda Dental 2013

OSF Chile dentist Marcelo Lagos Vivanco spent a few weeks in Kampala planning for next years mega dental campaign in Uganda. While he was there he was able to provide some basic dental care for the children. PLUS he was able to put his musical talents toward a music video about street children. More on the Uganda Dental Mission later......

Desana Uganda in music video!

Street Children Music Video

This year Kathy made friends with some musicians (Buswale Music Team) in Kampala who thought they would go and sing and entertain a few times for the children at Naguru and for the children in the slums of Kampala. When they went with Kathy to Kisenyi, I think they were completely overcome with the situation. There was no singing or dancing.... only digging the trash and mud to clear drainage.... treating wounds..... talking and caring .... The Buswale Music Team were so moved that they wanted to write a song about the children. Here is the video..... We Can't Fall (if we stand together) .... We will grow (if we love each other) ... In addition to the Buswale guys, Kathy and Marcelo are featured along with the children of House of Hope...... ENJOY (this song will be available on itunes shortly)