Speaker - August 2, 2013

Sarah Rucker

After reading a book about a young woman who journeyed to Uganda and subsequently opened an orphanage, thirteen year old, Abi David, felt called to visit the children of Uganda. Her heart was touched by the immense joy of the people of Uganda. In the midst of abject poverty, they expressed a love for God and others that moved Abi to action. Upon returning home, she began to raise funds to dig a well in the rural village of Okabei. In Okabei, as well as many other villages in rural Uganda, the children spend up to two hours per day retrieving water for their families. Some children walk over a mile to the nearest well. Abi successfully raised the money for the well in Okabei. Now she is hoping to raise the necessary funds to provide a well for a baby orphanage on the outskirts of Jinja.

Abi’s aunt, Dee Ann Whitenton, accompanied Abi on the trip to Uganda. There she met a pastor who has taken 17 orphans into his home and is educating over 100 children. She, along with her family, partnered with the pastor to build an orphanage that will accommodate 50 children. She now desires to build a foster home complex for abandoned babies, in hopes of, providing an opportunity for the babies to mature in a family environment.

After visiting Uganda, Ralph Rucker, Abi's granddaddy,  returned home and began to assist Abi and Dee Ann with raising funds. His heart was touched by the education needs of the children. He plans to continue to raise funds to educate the children of Uganda.