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Gillian Steele - Dwelling Places
‘Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all those are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy’ Proverbs 31:8-9
For years I had felt challenged by global poverty, injustice and inequality. As I got to know God better I realised it was His heart for people who are in need that I was experiencing – the Bible tells us time and time again that God hates injustice and challenges us to stand up and make a difference. As I learnt more about Jesus I saw His attitude to poverty and more importantly, what He did about it. In church Michael was teaching us about gifts and talents and was challenging us to ask God what ours were and how to use them... and so after lots of thinking, praying and chatting to people I gave up my job and flat and headed out to Uganda with Africa Inland Mission on a short term mission trip: from January – October 2007.
AIM placed me with a charity called Dwelling Places who work with street children & young people, abandoned babies and high risk slum families. There are 10,000 street children in Uganda – that’s 10,000 children who are suffering because they have no home, possibly have no family, are forced to beg for food to survive and often get involved in stealing or prostitution. I wasn’t sure what to expect or exactly how I can help such a tragic situation, and although it was scary I knew God wanted me to be in Uganda. It was an incredible but very challenging 9 months...it required a lot of trust in God and a lot of going out of my comfort zone...I hated it at times...I loved it more times than I didn’t! I met amazing friends and children who taught me about faith; about how big our God is; about how He can provide for us; about injustice and how to speak up; about self sacrifice out of knowing God’s love... When I came home my life changed a lot; I had to move in with my parents because I didn’t have a job, things changed a lot in my personal life and living back in the West, even after just a few months in Africa was really hard.
The following year Rita, the lady who runs Dwelling Places told me that they had started a UK charity called Dwelling Places International, and asked if I would work with the Board of Trustees to get it up and running. I knew it was the right thing and jumped at the chance. I have been working part time for the charity since August 2008 and we now have some funding for my post. We aim to raise awareness of street children and the needs in Uganda, support the work in Uganda financially, and allow people in the UK the opportunity to speak up and make a difference, whether through prayer, telling others, fundraising, Child Sponsorship... Since I’m the only staff member I deal with most areas of the charity, with support from the Board. The job includes communicating with the Ugandan administrator, encouraging and supporting new and existing child sponsors and donors, raising and handling donations, advocacy in churches and schools, managing volunteers and supporting those who are going to Uganda to volunteer. It is such a privilege to be part of this work and see how God is changing people’s lives!
For more information please visit us at www.dwellingplaces.org or contact me on 0141 882 2662, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Please also visit:
The ARK Card & Gift Shop,
1484 Paisley Road West,
Glasgow,
G52 1SP.
The shop is lovely and is run by Hillington Park Church, with the profits going to support the street children in Uganda. My office is also based there so if you’re in on a Thursday pop in for a cuppa!
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