Hugs 4 Tomorrow

When we share about our ministry in Malawi, John often tells people that we found these kids chewing on glass and nails. Maybe you’ve heard him say it. Here’s a photo from 2017 that proves it is not an exaggeration. Thankfully, none of the children in our program do this anymore. We’re so grateful to provide food, education, and healthcare to the kids in the HUGS for Tomorrow program—all in the name of Jesus Christ.

Well, I’ve been on a few safaris and only now finally got this rhino pic! Never mind the fact that it was taken at the Miami Zoo. 🤣

People keep telling me to stop sharing the secrets behind my photos and just pretend they were all taken in some exotic place. But I’m all about full disclosure, so I might as well tell you that if you end up visiting our campus in Malawi, we’ll probably es**rt you on a safari. I’m still hoping to sight a rhino in the wild, and I believe the part of your trip where you meet the kids in our program will change your life and make you a lifelong supporter. So it’s a win-win.

In the meantime, I think I’ll add this rhino pic to our photography website so you can print it for your wall and tell people whatever you want about where you got it. 😝

You’ll never see bigger smiles on these kids than in a selfie with Snoden. They absolutely love him!

Cool story alert! Twenty-five years ago, Chaohui, the lovely lady in the middle, walked into our church in Nashville while we were preparing for VBS. She asked what we were doing and then jumped right in to help us set up. John and I did a Bible study with her and baptized her shortly after.

Months later, when she and her husband were expecting their second daughter (the pretty girl in the photo with us), she asked me to be at the birth. Chaohui asked me to look at the baby’s face during delivery—I assumed it was to check that she was okay. Later she told me they believe a baby takes on the personality of the first person they see outside the womb. I have never felt more honored!

Well, this spunky, adventurous girl, whom I just officially met and whose middle name is Samantha, told me about her world travels and totally reminded me of myself. Hmmm. Maybe there is something to that.

This was such a sweet reunion, and I’m not even upset that someone’s thumb got in the way of the lens. 😝 I’m learning to appreciate the stories that go along with the photos almost more than the photos themselves.

Hey! We have a new donation page on our website. It now supports both one-time and monthly donations. Why did we add this? Because you asked! 😃

Head over to our website at hugsfortomorrow.org and try it out. You can update your donation details anytime, and we’ll send you a letter for your tax-deductible donation in January.

You’re going to want to come back and pay us for that good feeling you get when you help feed, educate, and share the gospel with underprivileged kids in Africa, but you don’t have to. It’s just a bonus.

These are our teen girls at HUGS. Peace and Esther are on the left of the photo. They have been part of the program since they were in preschool. Then there’s Sibongire, Lughano, and Esnart on the right.

Girls their age in the village typically miss school every month because they have no feminine hygiene products. We provide these, but our girls still miss a lot of school because we only have one flushing toilet. For $4,000 we can build another one where they will have priority during school hours. There are other girls who need that bathroom, but they’re not at school today for, well, the reasons I’ve stated.

Your donations don’t just give food and education but also dignity to these kids, and we all thank you for that!

This is Kora “helping” me unpack after our trip to Malawi. Overall it was nice having her assistance… but I’m light $20. 🤣

Well, this was such a treat! We finally made it back to Nebraska to pick up some personal things we had left in storage and were graciously welcomed by these lovely friends. ❤️

This certainly isn’t everyone who was a blessing to our family while we lived there, but it was a wonderful representation of the incredible people who loved us through some hard times.

I’m sharing two photos because I was behind the camera for one, and the tall guy in the middle took the other. The difference in perspective is pretty hilarious! 🤣📸 On a more serious note though, we’re grateful for friends who have helped shape our perspective over the years. Together, we reflect more of Christ than any of us ever could alone. These people have sharpened us and we are grateful for each one of them.

Remember Alana? She’s one of our new students who seems to have a problem with her eyes. When Snoden and Susan went to her house to ask her mother’s permission to take her to the eye clinic for an exam, they discovered that her mother has the same issue. So they will both be going soon. Thank you for supporting this ministry that not only helps the kids enrolled here but also their families. We appreciate your prayers for Alana and her mother Chrissy.