St. Raymond Lent Project

February 2024

Hello…..KA JUMBO! This LENT, God is calling us, the 5th grade class to encourage our fellow students to help us support a great need in the world. Earlier this year, we learned about a country called Uganda which is on the east side of Africa. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, and the people there are struggling to survive. Kids like you and me face problems we can’t imagine. In our religion book, we read that when we help those who cannot feed or clothe themselves, we are really caring for Jesus who lives in them. So, we decided to take action.

We’d like to introduce you to a foundation created by a local Deacon, named Don Grossnickle. This foundation is called ‘M-A-A-P’ which stands for the Micro-fiance Alliance Africa Projects. Deacon Don started this foundation in 2013 after he visited small villages in Uganda and was devastated to learn about the many challenges families face that can be helped with our dollars.

The people in this area live in poverty, lack clean water and have limited access to lifesaving healthcare. Because of these conditions, there is much sickness and disease, especially Malaria fever, which is carried by mosquitoes and kills many people every year. 

This is where the MAAP foundation comes in. The foundation doesn’t just send money – they help build small businesses in Uganda that are designed to actually make money for the community clinic. This money pays for the medicine, supplies, and staff needed to care for sick and impoverished mothers and children. The leaders of these facilities call them: ‘A miracle that God wanted to happen’. 

We would like to help build a farm that will better the lives of many people in Uganda. St. Raymond has done this twice before and has been able to help many people. This is where YOU come in! We are trying to raise $5,000 this LENT which will pay for this farm. All of this can be done with a donation of only $10 a person! Think of what $10 means to us. It could be a pack of baseball cards, a stuffie, or a couple of ice cream cones. But to them, it is life or death. Just $10 can save 5 lives, it’s as simple as that.

The people of Uganda are very thankful for all of our help. There is an African philosophy called, “UBUNTU”- (Ooh Boon Two) This means, ‘I AM BECAUSE WE ARE’. We are all connected. We all rely on each other. We depend on each other in ways, big and small. We ask you to bring the spirit of UBUNTU to St. Raymond this Lenten season. THANK YOU VERY MUCH……WAY-BA-LE-NO!