From COTREAS Newsletter #5

My journey home at the end of May this year was a real homecoming. It had been four years since I last went home. Among the many gifts, there were some that I cannot put any value to. I took home with me two great American friends. My family got to see the kind of people I stay with here in the U.S. It was a great opportunity for me to introduce my friends to the place where I was raised and some of the people I grew up with. They were able to experience for the first time an African touch of life in several places. These were places of worship, cities and towns, rural areas, and a game preserve. As in all new experiences, they quickly learned that Africa in many respects is not like America. There are differences in economic, cultural, religious and social sectors, just to name a few. Having passed through some potholed and other unpaved roads, I could hear one of them saying over and over again that he will never again complain about bad roads in the U.S.A.

  The recognition of differences did not stop at infrastructures. It led my visitors to the key point of our travel – the children COTREAS is helping. The bright smiling faces greeted us as we visited one group after another. I could see the tears in their eyes as my visiting friends encountered these beaming faces. On the other hand, I saw in the eyes of our orphans that comfort and assurance children display when their parents come home from work or travel. Time and time again that same image kept coming to me. I could not but keep asking myself: shall we ever satisfy some of the expectations that are behind these beautiful smiling faces?

  This is still my struggle up to today. I see opportunities around me, most of the times. More than not, I feel the urge to go out in the streets to shout out loudly the needs of those orphans. I feel like going to each and every TV and radio station to make known the pleas of COTREAS. This is my passion and how I wish I were able to tell many more about it. I have come to know a number of people in this land of the brave. I am so grateful to many who have come to know about the plight of our orphans and responded with lots of generosity. This last summer, I had a chance to tell the children “There are good people in America who love and care about you. They want to see you succeed in life. Work hard and pray for them as they come to your aid.”

   For all those who have come to answer our call for help, I want to say thank you so much. You have come to be the true hand and heart of a Jesus we believe in. He will be the one to tell you  “Well done good and faithful servant. I was in need of care and you were there for me. I needed support to go to school and you were there for me. You gave me hope when I had lost it all.” (cf. in other words Mt. 25:35-39). The challenge of the message of the Gospel is ever calling for more of our attention towards others. The Jesus we believe in keeps calling us to follow Him. (Lk. 9:23-24). And to do as He did. (Jn. 13:12-15). Those of you who have taken on the challenge of being Sustaining Members, you empower me to believe that the hopes of those children will come true. Because of you, we now have seventeen children in school. I know, as we all do, that this journey has still many more challenges ahead. I can rightly say, as Jesus said one time: “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Pray, therefore, to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers in His harvest.” (cf. Lk. 10:12).

  I want to pose this question to you as you read this article. Do you believe in the same Jesus of Nazareth that I believe in? If the answer were yes, I would want to ask you to add one more prayer for COTREAS, to look for a Good Samaritan in your neighborhood to break this news to, and more so to allow the Spirit of Christ to lead you to know the depth of the needs of those who suffer in our world today. When we are open to this ever-revealing Spirit, we become instruments of Salvation that God gives to people through people like you and me. Children are so central to the mind of God. They need love, nurturing, care and all protection. That is why Jesus was so keen about telling His disciples to allow the children to come to Him. (Mt.19:14). HIV/AIDS has devastated the lives and calm environment of these children. Our mission is to let the children in our care see the hand of Jesus reaching out to them. With your help, this mission becomes a reality. Those who did not have any hope for their future are taken in and offered the opportunity to realize their potentials. If you have more time, I would like to ask you to visit our website ( www.cotreas.org) for more information. There you will find in detail what COTREAS stands for, and how far we have gone in achieving our goals. We are a non-profit organization with 503(c) (3) status. All donations may be tax deductible. Your support and contributions are highly appreciated. 

  I am proud to tell you that all contributions, minus telephone, printing and postage, go directly to the support of orphans in our care. This is so because a good team of volunteers has decided to dedicate their time and money to run COTREAS. I sincerely want to thank them all for their dedication and the great love they have for the children of COTREAS in Uganda. Dear Volunteers, you have worked tirelessly to plan events and functions that make our cause known to many. You are truly an extension of Jesus who comes in different forms to save and liberate human situations. 

  Christmas is around the corner. I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas. May this constant reminder of the coming of God in our human society be an enrichment of our being gods to each other, especially the most vulnerable among us. I wish all of you a Happy New Year 2005. May the many blessings and peace of our God be with you.

Rev. Muwonge Expedito

President

Come to The Rescue Association

For complete COTREAS Newsletter #5