This was an article published in Uganda's Sunday Monitor, Lifestyle section, on August 26, 2007. In the photos are David and I, my Dad and Tim Q, children and youth from the Gulu gym, some staff and volunteers, a few donors and former amatuer and professional boxers like Justin Juuko, Emmanuel Mwesigwa, and Geofrey Kasule. Also, pictured is a professional boxer from Tanzania.

In the bottom picture you will enjoy my dad taking on one of the boys from the gym. He didn't have a chance! My dad that is. :>) Tim tried a round too. If you click on the article is will enlarge for you to view and read. There is one error, we had fifty children in Home Again at the time we were interviewed for the article, not 150.

Geofrey with his new team

This is a photo of Geofrey with his new teammates at Dakota County Technical college where is studying and playing on a student athlete scholarship. Geofrey is in the middle row in a bright blue shirt. The one on your right.

Having begun classes and games, Geofrey is a busy young man. It's been a challenge to get used to so many new things, places, and people so fast. But he is adjusting well and feels so grateful to be here going to school and playing soccer.

This year Geofrey is playing goalkeeper. Usually he's a striker but the team lost its original goalkeeper just before the first game. Geofrey was the only one with skills in tending the net so he was chosen for the job. So far the record is 4 wins and 1 loss. Pretty good, especially for a team of mostly 1st year players coming from all over to play together.

Thanks to all who helped and continue to help! Also, he's getting his driving license soon, so pray! :>) Someone from our church donated a car today for Geofrey to drive to and from school! What a blessing, an amazing blessing. We can't even express how helpful that is right now!

I don't recall if I mentioned in a previous blog, but Geofrey's mother was so devoted to her children going to school. She worked hard to see them get as far as she could before she died. His father loved soccer. Both would be so proud of him and his siblings if they could see their children today! Since they are not here to enjoy, we will enjoy for them! Maybe they get to look on from heaven, I don't know. If they can, they are smiling!

Trainer at Redeemed Boxing Gym Beaten by Police

The Redeemed Boxing Gym & Recreation Center's head trainer, who goes by the name Kidega, was brutally beaten by police about one month ago. Police, on bad information, conducted a raid of a group of people whom they claimed to be rebels. Kidega happened to be in the same place as the group when the raid occurred and got caught in the midst of the chaos.

The beating nearly claimed his life and leaves him still fighting for returned strength and health.

Fortunately, our program manager in the Gulu region, Experito Bulamu, came to his aide with evidence of his work with us and his boxing credentials. Police let him go and he is back with his family now recovering.

Kidega is a great man and a talented trainer. At the gym, he spends hours training young boys and girls in the sport of boxing, finding talents, and counseling them in good habits and life discipline.

We thank God that he survived and is now recovering! May he recover fully and get back in the ring soon!

Ibra's is back in Uganda with his American eye

Ibra is back in Uganda with his prosthesis. Scroll down the blogs to see a picture of the eye in progress. It looks great.

Thanks to all who participated in making it happen, especially Gillian Duncan and Gene Fletcher, Dr Eric Nelson and Dr Peterson of Edina. You have all worked a miracle! May God abundantly and overwhelmingly bless you!

Also, there is an annonomous donor who gave the airfare and other expense money for Ibra and a guardian to go to Kenya in 2004 to try and get an eye there. Though it couldn't happen there, it gave us hope that something was possible.

Thank you for your generosity and for keeping me (Aimee) encouraged to try and find some help for Ibra. It was your donation that made me believe it was possible.

Today, Ibra is full of confidence and joy. Just a couple years ago, it was hard to get him to look at you. Thank you to all! He appreciates those who have loved him and believed in his future and so do we (David and Aimee and the whole Redeemed Africa family).

Now, back in Uganda, Ibra plans to finish school and study either medicine or teaching. He says it depends on whether he can learn to handle the site of blood or not. :>)

While in the US, Ibra played lots of soccer, enjoyed big cheesy burgers, and loved the snow. He met great people and had a blast. It was hard to go back but he has a plan and will be successful in accomplishing it.

Geofrey is here and playing soccer

Thanks to ALL who prayed and gave toward Geofrey coming to the United States. He has begun soccer practices already and registers for classes this week.

America has been a completely new but enjoyable experience for him. He is having fun and feeling overwhelmed at the same time. The school has given him a minimum of 50% student athlete scholarship. We are waiting to hear if they will offer more.

His coach says he's doing great and he's very happy with him on the field and as a young man. So keep up the great work team, we are playing the game well!

Moses did not make it to the States yet but he will and we will keep you informed as we have updates about him. Thanks again and be abundantly blessed!

Babra Chosen for Uganda's National Boxing Team

It's amazing how we can think God is taking forever to answer prayers. Then, in one swoop He dots all the i's and crosses all the t's...and, that's it! The waiting is over and the prayer is answered.

That's how Babra's story happened. Her parents died in the early 2000's leaving her to fend for herself. A young girl with no one to support her, she struggled to work and find means to provide. Managing to make it through some more schooling, Babra eventually failed to keep up with the school expenses because she had to eat and sleep somewhere. Constantly, she prayed and asked God for help. Never giving up hope yet feeling like all hope was gone, she persisted.

In the fall of 2006, she passed by the newly opened The Redeemed Boxing Gym & Recreation Center in Gulu, northern Uganda. Seeing some guys punching the bags looked interesting. Children sang songs, exercised, and trained. It looked fun and interesting. She stopped and asked if girls can join too. Since the gym is open to all children under 19, she was welcomed.

The gym become home and family to her and in four months, Babra fought in her first amatuer competition. She was so good, the national committee waived certain pre-requisite requirements for experience and allowed her to go straight to Uganda's National Tournament a couple months later.

She came in second in nationals and is now in training on Uganda's National Team. Passport in hand, she is preparing to travel to either Europe or Asia (I'm waiting on the details but wanted to tell you and couldn't wait for those) in about a month for her first international tournament.

We will keep you posted. But keep Babra in your thoughts and prayers. This is a whole new world for her and she's got great potential. It pays to be faithful, never give up hope, and to find at least one thing to excel in.

Thanks to all who helped open the gym and those who continue to support it. We have so many stories of children, youth, and families lives being blessed it's hard to keep up with them all. More to come soon...

Scholarships Abound

Both Geofrey and Moses received 50% scholarships as student athletes. Thank you for your prayers! Now, it's visa time.

We will keep you posted. Be blessed and thanks for all your support and prayers!

Geofrey and Moses Accepted to a US College

We have been writing to you about two of our boys, Geofrey and Moses, and our endeavors to bring them to the US for college. We have received official correspondence that they have been accepted to a Community College in Minnesota! This is so exciting! Our first college students!!!

We have a few more things to get ready, a little more funds to raise...about $1,500 remaining for airfare and about $8,000 for school, and they are ready to travel. We will go for visas soon so be praying for favor. That's the most difficult part.

We are so excited about this opportunity for our boys. They are remarkable students, workers, and young men! We are proud of them and so privileged to give this opportunity! Thanks to all who sowed into their lives and continue to sow. You will meet them very soon!

Prince Fred's Zambia Trip

As some of you know, one of our education projects this summer is to send Prince Fred (yes, he's a real prince), one of our high school graduates to Zambia to work as a volunteer in the medical and outreach field.

Prince Fred is interested in pursuing a medical career and in helping orphans. An opportunity to go to Zambia and work with Dr Tim Meade, medical director of Corpmed Medical Centre, has opened for him and we are working to send him there by the end of June.

Thought you might like to see where he is going and what he will be doing.

Click on the title above to see Tiny Tim and Friends website (this is who Prince Fred is working with) and you can also check out www.corpmedzambia.com as well. Be blessed and if you want to contribute toward Prince Fred's trip, we welcome your participation - click on the Secure Online Giving button or go to the contact us page for our address.

This is a great way to help another organization doing incredible charitable and life saving work and to give a young man an opportunity to learn how to do such work.

Thanks and God bless!

Share Your Talents

Consider sharing your gifts and talents with us. We have opportunities for 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and longer.

Current needs are:

• Nanny for missionary family
• Preschool teacher
• Bible teacher
• Construction workers
• Carpenters
• Drama/Dance teacher
• Music/Choir teacher

Write us at redeemedafrica@gmail.com to inquire about these or future opportunities.

Ibra's American Eye

Just in case you don't know who Ibra is, let me tell you very briefly.

Ibra is one of our boys from Uganda. His mother abused him severely as a child causing him to lose his right eye. He excaped her by running to the streets and then came to live with us. For year, he never smiled or even looked up at us and he wore baseball caps to shade his face.

But today, Ibra goes to school and is living a life he never imagined he could have in safety, provision and love. He loves the Lord and is honored to have had the experience of traveling to the United States to receive a prosthetic eye.

Originally he was going to receive a more permenant prosthesis. However, his eye socket is too small. So, thanks to the amazing skills of some creative people (like Gillian Duncan) and technology today...Ibra is receiving an eye through anaplastology. It requires no surgery. Just time. All professionals involved have volunteered their time and services.

Special thanks to all the doctors and specialists involved in Ibra's care while here in Minnesota. This has been an amazing experience! Also, special thanks to those who have shown Ibra such love, friendship, and care while he's here in the US!

Sponsor a Child

SPONSOR
This is Arnold Katende. When Arnold first came to live with us he was so traumatized he never talked. Today, he is in the Scouts at school and performing well in class.

Arnold is in Senior 2. He has two years left of high school. If you are interested in sponsoring him, he is a true gem. At home, he serves as one of the cooks.

The Redeemed Africa Newsletter

WEBSITE
We’ve got one! Let us know how you are enjoying it. Big thanks to Quist Design for their team’s great work! We love them and the sight! If you are looking for wonderful people to work with and a team that can express you and your vision, contact Quist Design at: QuistDesigns.com

The Redeemed Boxing Gym & Recreation Center
Lots happening but we had to close doors for a few weeks. The cement floor endured some serious pounding from all those feet jumping and running on it. After repairs are through, we are back to training as usual. Other projects are still active.

New children are being registered at the gym every day and we have some boxers being considered for the Uganda National Team. Families are being changed and relationships mended. A community is being restored.

Most importantly, children and youth are finding peace, destiny, and hope for the future!

Home Again, Uganda
Our boys and girls are already back to school. They study three terms a year so this is the beginning of term 2. Many good reports from term 1 but a few really struggled with grades. This is most likely due to some changes in schools so next term we expect an improvement.

Three boys are preparing to go for further studies. Prince Fred is going to Zambia to work with an American doctor. He plans to study medicine so this is a perfect start in getting experience in the field. While there, he will assist Dr Tim Meade and his staff working with children and others who have AIDS.

Geofrey and Moses are brothers. The two are coming to the United States to study business and play soccer at a college in Minnesota. In January 2008, we plan to send four to Botswana to Bible school.

Several are graduating from Primary school this December and one will complete Secondary. A few of last years graduates are now employed and developing their business skills.

Visitors
This year we enjoyed visits from Pastor Bill Predovich and Evangelist Tim Quernemoen from Resurrection Life Church and Ministry Center in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. They enjoyed the end of an exciting professional boxing match won by our very our Badru Lusambya and met some leaders of the Amateur and Professional Boxing Federations in Uganda. As honorary guests of an appreciation gathering, they had fun meeting children from the gym in Gulu and from Home Again in Zana.

We also hosted Alex Fournier (Abanunule, the movie’s director/producer) in March and have several visitors making plans for the fall and winter seasons. We love visitors!