He Broke My Heart

The good Lord has broken my heart. He has broken my heart for the children of Uganda. There is so much devastation in their tiny little lives. They don't know the reality that we do. Their reality is they don't know where their next meal is coming from, let alone how long it will be before there even is a next meal.

It breaks my heart to know that so many children don't have a mommy to kiss them goodnight, to kiss their boo-boo's when they fall, to comfort them when they are sad, to hold them when they are ill.

There are so many facts that break my heart for the orphans of Uganda. These children, though I have never met one, are changing my life. I was hoping to change theirs and began my search for a way to help with such desperation to make a difference in theirs.

When this first began several months ago I had no clue what I could do, then the Sanyu Foundation-Uganda came into my life. This has been such a blessing and I am ever-so-grateful for the opportunity to make a difference alongside them.

I am now in the process of helping to create a blog for them, which has been such a challenge. It is very hard to create stories without being there first-hand. I have been working very closely with my friend in the foundation, Baker to get all the information together.

One of the pages I decided to create was a Volunteer Story page. I have included my story below as a way to introduce myself and just let you, the reader get to know me just a little better. Share my hope to be of service to the people in such dire need of people who care.

You can view the blog in its entirety at sanyufoundationuganda.blogspot.com


My name is Kimberly Brock.  I am a believer and follower of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The Lord our God has a plan. It is a perfect plan, as he is a mighty all-knowing God.  In his plan he decided to place a burden on my heart for Uganda.  This burden has been one of the best things to happen to me in all my life.

I am a single mother of 5 beautiful children that bless me every day of my life. Being a single mother has been a very hard thing to manage, especially without much outside support.  I thought we were the prime example of what the bible refers to as “The Least of These.” 

Recently I was showed a book of pictures called, Material World: A Global Family Portrait. This book changed my perspective completely.  I couldn’t believe what I saw!  I saw families in their yard and their only possession in the picture was a pot and spoon coupled with the clothes on their backs. 

Could you even imagine? Would you even want to try to understand exactly what it feels like to not have food to feed your children?  To have no choice other than to watch your own children slowly deteriorate due to the malnutrition?  What I saw broke my heart, and at the same time gave me such a deep appreciation for all I have.

I came home after viewing this book at my local church, and silently took inventory of all I had. Among all my many “possessions” I have children that are well fed, clothed, able to get an education, medical care whenever necessary.  I also have my own health, love of many friends, family. Most of all I have a deep connection with God.  This book made me want to learn more. 

My search landed me at a women’s bible study through my church called The Hole in Our Gospel written by the president of World Vision, Richard Stearns.  I recommend this study to everybody that wants to join the fight to stop world poverty.  It opened my eyes to the real need out there in the world and my responsibility to do something about it. This study just made me realize it is not ok to close my eyes and pretend the issues in these developing countries don’t exist. I have a responsibility to act.

I have seen the commercials on the television since I was a small child. I remember feeling so sad at the pictures they showed.  As an adult that feeling when I saw them I felt a deep sadness that would bring me to actual tears. I have always had a deep sympathy for the children with such extreme poverty. I just never understood what there was I, Kimberly Brock the single mother that struggles to keep shoes on her own children’s feet, could possibly do about it. I mean really, what did I have to give?

With the Lord guiding me along my path he is laying out for me I found the Sanyu Foundation on Facebook.  I began communicating with a gentleman named Baker,( one of the foundation coordinators) I expressed my motivation to help and the foundation has welcomed me with open arms. They have empowered me by allowing me the opportunity to write this blog.  How amazing a journey it is to be involved in making an impact in the lives of these children the foundation reaches out to. My ultimate goal is to be in Africa helping in person, helping these children one to one, face to face.  I want help bring smiles to their faces and peace to their lives. Until the good lord clears the path for that to happen I thank him for the hurt he put in my heart for these little ones. I thank him for blessing me with the Sanyu Foundation and I thank him for the faith, love, and grace he showers on me every single day of my life!

Reaching out to the children that are suffering in the District of Rakai, Uganda has changed my life. Just before the Lord graced me with the circumstances that led me to this vision I have for the children of Uganda I was in a terrible place in my life. I was lost in depression, beaten down by the experiences I had in my own personal life. Everything seemed so dark, so hopeless. I couldn’t help feeling life would never be ok for me. I was just not good enough. I was at the end of my rope lost in self-pity.

The Lord saw this and showed me the errors of my own thinking. I needed to be thankful for all I do have. I need to be appreciate all I have been blessed with. Other people are not as fortunate as I am to have these five beautiful faces right here smiling at me fed, clothed, healthy, spunky, and sometime mischievous.

I am thankful you are taking the time to read this blog, it means you care. You care for these orphans that are just praying that somebody out there will help.  Please have patience with me and check back often for changes in the blog as I work with the members and volunteers to pull it all together.