Kony 2012 - Part II Beyond Famous

I don't want to say that much more, but today is April 20th.... so... watch part 2 of the campaign and decide for yourself what you are going to do about it!

xoxo

Ramona

Kony 2012 - One thing we can all agree on

Almost two years ago I fundraised money for my birthday in order to pay for surgery of disfigured women in Uganda. It was a time for me where I learned a lot but also was able to raise some sort of awareness here on this blog. I contributed my part to a larger whole. If you're interested in the whole journey you can read it here.

And now again I want to use this space of mine to raise awareness. Most of you might have already heard of or seen the new video by Invisible Children that goes with their Kony 2012 Campaign.

I know there has been some controversy on their approach and opionions are divided. I actually read a really good article about that on Relevant magazine. I do believe we always have to look at the complexity and the larger scale of such a problem.
At the same time I do believe that in order to raise awareness and in order to get that problem/issue across one has to find simple ways of telling, breaking it down to real basic understanding so that every single person can understand it.
And that is what this video does. Anyboy and everybody can understand the basic problem and realize that there has to be something that we can all do, that we have to stand up, join forces and change this world.

So... please watch the movie. But don't stop there. Inform yourself about the situation, read statistics, newspapers and reports.



And now... think for yourself, consider how and where you want to get involved. There are so many possibilites to get invovled in Uganda, may it be through Invisible Children or Watoto or through Compassion International. Or if resources are little, why don't you start praying. Pray for wisdom, pray for the governments, pray for the children, pray for the decision makers.
The most important thing is that you do something.

xoxo

Ramona

26

So, here I am on my 26th birthday. The last couple of weeks have been such a journey as I didn't want any presents this year and instead raise money for a project in Uganda. Not all the money is in yet and so I have decided to give you another week to donate money. Just contact me for all the details.

So, here I am... 26 years old and not feeling it at all. I mean seriously.... how do you feel with that age...

As I am thinking back on this year I am in awe of what God has done, where He brought me, how He blessed me. I have an amazing family that I am so thankful for and I never take it for granted. I have the most awesome friends who I never want to do life without. These are covenant relationships. And I have a church that is a home, a place where I feel safe. I am so happy and content where I am yet eager to grow, to reach out for more. I have dreams for this coming year and am excited to see where God is going to take me.

Today my verse of the day (always have verse of the day) was out of Luke 6:38 "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." I was so excited to read this today.

As I look back 5 years from now I can see what all happened, how I grew and developed and became the person I am today and then I look 1 year to 5 years from now and I am excited because I know there is so much more out there.

Anyways, just wanted to write this blog to share a little from my heart, what I am feeling today and give you another chance to pray and think about if you should give something for my cause in Uganda.

xoxo

Ramona

Weekly Update 3: The Story of Watoto

Hello, good day,

this is already my third update concerning my fundraising for my birthday gift to Watoto Ministries.
I am super excited to announce today that 25% of funding has already come in. So, thank you to everybody who already gave.
If you're interested in giving or want to know more about my cause, please visit my posts:
Be Her Dignity
Weekly Update 1: Nancy's Story
Weekly Update 2: Facts about Uganda

For in depth information and ways of giving please leave a comment with your email adress and I will send you the things needed.

For this week I chose to share a video with you which shows Watoto's story, how they minister and gives you some really good background information.

Enjoy!

xoxo
Ramona

Weekly Update 2: Facts about Uganda

Hello, good day,
yet another week has passed and I am super thankful for the funding which is already coming in. Thank you so much!
This week I want to share a few statistics about Africa and Uganda with you to give you an insight of the country, its needs and backgrounds.

Uganda was once a Britsh colony and through them setting boundaries many very different political systems and cultures were grouped together. This led to unstabilities and ultimately to war and the dying of approximately 300,000 people between 1971 and 1979 and another 100,000 people between 1980 and 1985.
Since the 1990s Uganda is a demoractic republic, yet problems have not been solved at all. Many guerilla groups were formed, one of them the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) under the control of Joseph Kony.
In raging against the government and civilians they have abducted more than 20,000 children for the last 23 years. Not only are these children forced into being soldiers, but they are made addicted to drugs, they are raped and treated the most brutal way imaginable.
They often force 7 year old girls into forced marriages, but you can also simply call it raping girls. They often also cut off parts of the solidier's bodies as punishment, like noses, lips, hands, ears.
In 2005 the UNO called the LRA the most brutal rebell group of the world yet the news of the brutal acts often do not even reach our press releases.

An international warrant against Joseph Kony has been issued, but it is really hard to find him as until 2000 nobody even knew how Joseph Kony looked like as there were no pictures. Because of the power he has Ugandan army is even afraid of him.

In the northafrican town Gulu dozens of humanitarian organisations are stationed such as Watoto trying to help those who are rescued. They are so very important because the war in Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today.

In addition to these problems come the problems of Aids and poverty in Uganda.
This is why we have to stand up and make a difference. This is why I chose to give dignity back to one of these girls rescued from the LRA. This is why we join our hands together and reach them out.

Be a part of something big, be a part of making a difference. If you are interested in giving, please contact me and I will send you all the necessary information.

xoxo

Ramona

More Information and links:
Hände und Köpfe abgehackt - article of the German newspaper Die Sueddeutsche (german only)
The World Factbook - facts and statistics about Uganda
UNICEF - information about Uganda
Invisible Children - The History of the War

Be Her Dignity

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and in justice in the world, when He could do something about it... But I'm afraid He might ask me the same question." ~ Anonymous

On July 23 I am turning 26 years old. Every year I try to think of something special for my birthday.
This year I have planned something completely different, something that has been on my heart for over a year now.

I have decided to forgo all my presents this year and instead fundraise money for a cause in Ugauda. The before-mentioned quote touches me everytime I read it and this year on my birthday I want to do a small part contributing to a bigger whole.

The project I am raising money for is part of Watoto Ministries. They have a project called Living Hope .

Women in Africa are the most marginalised group. Many of them are HIV+; many are teenage mothers having to fear that their babies will soon join the ranks of the countless orphans of Africa as they cannot nurture them.

Within the last two years it has been discovered that many of these girls who had been able to escape the LRA and were abducted a second time have been disfigured terribly. Their noses, lips and ears have been cut off. Because of the disfigurements they are abandoned from society often living a life of loneliness feeling completely unworthy.
The good news is that there is hope for these girls and young women. Partnering with Hillsong’s COLOUR SISTERHOOD and international teams of surgeons Watoto has made it their goal to restore the faces of these girls by repairing their noses, lips and ears. One surgery costs 3,000 AUD, which are approximately 2,534 $, fairly little compared with what will be restored through one surgery.

You know, I think about my own life and how blessed I am. I actually do not lack anything. I am one of the few people on this earth being privileged to live like this. We forget about this too often. So often we are so consumed by our own problems and challenges we forget that there are a lot of bigger things to reach out for.
Isaiah 60:1 states

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the
LORD rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of
the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.“

I want God to say these words about me. I want him to say, “Ramona has stood up and she runs and shines and changes her world, she does her part”. I am convinced that if we all did our part this world would look completely different as each small part contributes to the bigger.

Therefore I have made it my goal to raise money for one surgery until my birthday. I am beyond excited about stepping out and making a difference.

If you are interested in giving or praying, please do not hestitate to contact me through the blog by leaving your email adress for example (I will send all the information to you then) or through facebook.

I will write weekly updates on how things are progressing or giving you more information about Uganda, projects, videos etc.

People. let's do this together. Let us change the world!

xoxo

Ramona