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Binding Up Broken Hearts

That’s right, we are back 

in the “Green House”,

 where we lived last

year. This year, however, we

came to Uganda in late dry 

season rather than at the start

of the rainy season as we did in

2012. The difference has been

noticeable; it’s hot! 

 Another difference is that

Uganda has had a good “dry”

season in that there has not

been drought. As we flew over

the country on our approach to

Entebbe Airport, we could see

the difference from the air; the

country was green and lush!

People in Ntuti, the nearest

 village to the ranch where we

are living, are so grateful!

 Already we are very busy.

Robin has begun counseling 

sessions with the new, first

year students at African Hospi-

tality Institute as well as a few 2nd year students and staff.

 All 2nd year students and staff 

 will be scheduled as our stay 

continues.

Contacts were made with Cor-

nerstone Leadership Academy 

(CLA), Ekitangaala Secondary 

School (ESS) and Ekitangaala

Primary School (EPS). At all

three sties leadership were in-

terested in using us while we

are here. This past week weprovided Post Traumatic Stress

Disorder (PTSD) Awareness

information to both CLA and

ESS faculty and staff. Coun-

seling with the younger chil-

dren at EPS began last week!

Caleb, 12, and John on the porch at

the “Green House” 

In addition, we have beenteaching a weekly workshop,

Healing the Wounds of Trau-

ma by Margaret Hill, Harriet

Hill, Richard Bagge and Pat

Continued on p. 2

Back Home in the “Green House” ... 

The Headmistress turned

her eyes away from

mine and hesitated

before going on.

 We had been talking about the

possibility that I (Robin) would

come to her primary school to

do trauma work with children

 who need help. I was very 

hopeful. Children’s brains have

good plasticity and, using 

EMDR or LI, can heal very 

fast. It is a joy to behold!

Keeping her eyes averted, the

Headmistress went on. “I

spoke to a child this morning,”

she said,, “ who witnessed his

father hack his mother to piec-

es with a machete.” Her eyes

met mine, a slight look of chal

lenge on her face.

“Yes,” I answered, “this is the

kind of child I want to work 

 with.” With God’s help! 

“Good, we have many.” 

“Let the little children come to me, …” 

Freeing children and those who care for them from the wounds of trauma in Jesus’ name.  

February 2013

Volume 1, Issue 2

Binding Up Broken

Hearts 

 Email:  John@

bindingupbrokenhearts.org  

 Email:  Robin@

bindingupbrokenhearts.org  

“The Lord … heals

the brokenhearted andbinds up their

 wounds.” Ps. 147:2a, 3 

Want to help us continue 

and expand this ministry? 

Write your donation to

 Abba’s Ambassadors, with 

“Vendelins” written in 

memo and mail to: 

 Abba’s Ambassadors,

P.O. Box 523,

 North Myrtle Beach, SC,

29597 

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“ Back Home in the ‘Green House’ …”, continued from p. 1

Miersma of Wycliffe Bible Translators especially for the Church in Afri-

ca. It has been a wonderful resource and we have been very happy with

the reception it is receiving from the staff and students of AHI.

In addition to his work on the above projects, John is already busy 

 wielding his paintbrush! AHI’s newest construction project, The Mis-

sion House, as well as some additional staff housing are being painted.

He has also picked up more than his share of the cooking since Robin

has appointments into early evening. Since he is a very good cook, Rob-

in is more than happy to give up some of the meal preparation.

Best of all was hearing from those with whom we worked last year. The

improvements gained last year have lasted. As one young man said,

“No, Momma, it (severe PTSD symptoms) has not come back. I am

good now!” 

of all, some take advantage of 

the desperation that poverty 

creates to profit from Africa’s

 wealth of resources while it’s

people struggle to survive.

So, although, this group of 

educators were welcoming and

polite, there was also a bit of 

challenge. “What,” it seemed

to ask, “do you, in your benev-

olent, foreign arrogance, think 

you can offer us? ““Possibly nothing,” I was

thinking. But I know God has

sent us here so we will offer

 what He has given us to offer.

 As our half-hour presentation

unfolded, however, the atmos-

phere changed. Sadly, many 

 were recognizing the symp-

toms of PTSD in very personal

lowship time with the plan of 

presenting our Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder Awareness

presentation. We are, after all,

“muzungus”, the local Lugan-

dan name for white people,

 which literally means, “man

running in circles” The word

is, sadly, too often very de-

scriptive of African experience

 with white people.

Even well-meant, Westernattempts to help the people

emerge from stifling poverty 

have often been revealed as,

at best, poorly thought out so

that they become dependent,

or, worse, arrogant efforts to

force what has worked for us

on others whose cultures we

do not understand.. Worst

 ways.

 As we ended and asked for any 

questions, there was a disori-

ented silence.

Finally, an energetic, sincere

young teacher who had previ-

ously identified himself as

being from Northern Uganda

 where there has been horrible

suffering at the hands of Jo-

seph Kony’s rebels spoke up. 

“Many of you think you know 

me,” he said, “but, really, you

only know  — ten percent of 

 who I am, what my life has

been. I will not let this oppor-

tunity pass. I am going to take

help while I can.”

Please pray for him. Please

pray for them.

“I will not let this opportunity pass.” 

 Not a student at AHI, she saw 

an opportunity and took it 2012.

Please be praying ...

It was a bit uncomfortable to

join the secondary school

faculty for their weekly fel-

For the staffs, faculties, trainers and students of AHI,

CLA, EPS and ESS that will be working on resolving 

trauma;

 That the trauma workshops we are offering will be

relevant and speak to the hearts of our hearers;

 That those who need trauma therapy will have the

humility and courage to ask for help;

For opportunities and finances to visit possible sites

for ministry in the future, such as Cornerstone

schools in Rwanda and Tanzania and the refugee

camps providing safety for Congolese refugees being 

served by International Medical Teams;

For the Word of God to be shared with the power

and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to Christians and

Muslims alike so that all may know Jesus Christ as

Lord and be free of fear;

 That the power and hold of Satan through tradition-

al witchdoctors will be broken completely;

For our safety and good health;

For the Father’s guidance, wisdom, blessing and love!

He knows we need Him every minute!

Giggles, Goofs and Geography 

 The ability to dismount a bicycle gracefully in a skirt continues to elude me(Robin). This time my long knit skirt got wrapped around the seat as I dis-

mounted, pulled the bike over on top of me and knocked me down on my 

back. Nothing new, really, but doing it at recess at the Primary School …!!!

 They tried not to laugh but they failed — completely!