Beloved Friends,
 As I think about returning to Uganda in September, I can feel my heart get excited. I can hear the squeals of laughter and I can see the children running from the house screaming, "Auntie, Auntie!"
I can almost feel my girls' arms around me, almost crushing me welcoming me home. I can see the changes in them...more mature, more at peace, more joyful.
And it makes me incredibly grateful.
We are coming up on our ONE YEAR anniversary having opened our doors to beautiful young women and babies who have now started a new life! And I want to say THANK YOU because YOU
have made it possible. Your prayers, your tears, your churches, your finances, your leaving the comforts of home to volunteer. And it is changing the world. One girl at a time. She is the future and
because we have invested in her, she is going to make it brighter for her child, and for someone else. Because now, she has hope.
Janine was a child soldier in Congo. After everything she had been through there, she says Gulu is like heaven. She has scars all over her body where a man used to cut her with razor blades because he wanted no one else to want her. Becoming a prostitute was her only escape. She lives in our home now with a support system and counseling and skills training so she doesn't have to sell her body anymore. In her own words she says,
"I am now saved. I left that life and I never want to go back. Now I don't have to worry every day about where to get food or how I might suffer at the hands of men. I feel like a baby seeing the world for the first time." ~ Janine (Read more stories here)
Things have really come full circle. The thing that makes me most proud is that now our girls now share that message of hope with other young prostitutes and victims of violence on the street. Already 12 other women & men, including a UPDF officer, have received Jesus and want to change their lives due to their outreaches in the community. I just cry at how AMAZING it all is!
(You can now support a girl like Janine for only $35 a month. Visit http://zionproject.org/donate.html)
back to top 
News Update
 The Girls
They are growing every day! Our Acholi girls remain at the top of their classes in school & vocational school. I'm so proud!
We added a new addition--baby Daniel who Irene gave birth to this summer. Prostitutes we minister to have started giving us their children to take care of because they don't want their daughters to grow up like them. Read more updates here or here.
Home Update
Our journey has not been without challenges. This past month our landlord at our Congolese home sent us an eviction notice for no apparent reason and after friends of ours in government speaking with him, he gave us an extension until the end of September. But housing is difficult to find in Gulu and will be more expensive than last year. Even in the face of this, the Congolese girls just prayed and even went out to minister to other girls instead of worrying.
This has raised the issue in my heart again about dreaming of building our own home and healing center. Please pray with us for this dream to become a reality! Nothing is impossible with God. If you would like to give towards housing visit our website.
Volunteers
We have had 5 volunteers come through Zion Project this summer and it has been so wonderful to see the impact they have had on the girls and the girls on them! Matt, one of our volunteers who was in Gulu for 3 weeks, writes:
"Wow. All I can say is wow. The last three days have been incredible. On an outreach with the girls from the Congolese house two of the
women we ministered to accepted Christ! We also prayed and ministered to the sick. The girls even shared their testimonies!"
Staff
Many of you know I have been praying for a long time that God would bring someone perfect to work alongside me in the USA so I could be freed to be where my heart is: in Uganda. Emma Smith has agreed to become part-time staff as our State-Side Operations Manager and I can't say enough great things about her!!! She will be handling everything over here including volunteers so you can reach her at: emma@zionproject.org or call (540) 454-6518.
Bead Parties
We've had great success selling the beautiful beaded necklaces our Congolese girls are making while we teach them English and try to find the right schooling and skills training for them. We are thankful to those of you who have hosted a Bead Party with your friends. Please contact Emma@zionproject.org if you are interested in hosting a party!! It's a lot of fun for a good cause!
Girl Soldier, The Movie
Two years ago, Stephanie Pinola, an inspirational writer, contacted ZP about wanting to do a film on girl soldiers after visiting our website. We are excited to say this dream has come true! We have the amazing opportunity of being involved with the incredible film Girl Soldier starring Uma Thurman, which was inspired by many of our friends and girls we work with in Uganda. We will be helping with awareness raising, fundraising for the girls we reach out to, and also with the documentary which will be done alongside the feature film and are thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful team of people!
back to top
Note from Sarita
 Executive Director
It's been really nice to be back in the States and eat good food, be with family and friends, and yes, even plan a wedding here, but I'm looking forward to getting back to Uganda! My new husband, Tyson and I will return to Uganda September 16th to continue ministering there. We would really appreciate your prayers! I want to say THANK YOU to all of the churches and bible studies who hosted me and gave me an opportunity to share and raise funds. I saw the Holy Spirit move and touch people's hearts and that was so rewarding for me. I really believe God wants to bring the healing and miracles girls in Uganda have experienced to us here in the US. If you are interested in having either myself or Emma speak about ZP please contact info@zionproject.org. I am planning on hopefully coming back in January so get me on your calendar now! :)
back to top
Northern Uganda Status
 Thousands of people are in danger of starvation in northern Uganda, many in regions where international food assistance has recently been scaled back due to lack of funding.
LRA attacks in the DR Congo have increased in frequency and severity over the past three months. In the first three weeks of July, 49 people were killed and 147 kidnapped during 55 LRA attacks on Congolese communities.
The Acholi people are still returning to their villages but lack the basic necessities for surviving like seeds and hoes to help them farm. They are going "home" to places long devastated by war with no access to water, buildings, schools, or medical care. Our farm in the village of Olwiyo provides some jobs for those looking to earn money to help them with their own farms, but so much more needs to be done!
back to top
Prayer
Prayer is so important! We are in constant spiritual warfare and need you to join with us in prayer. We are looking for a new Prayer Coordinator. Please email sarita@zionproject.org if you are interested in leading this very important call or would like to join her prayer team!
back to top
Giving
 You can give in so many ways:
- Volunteer in the USA or Uganda.
- Email this newsletter to your friends and have them sign up!
- Sponsor a girl by yourself or with friends (only $35!)
- Sponsor a home for a month (around $1,500)
- Host a bead party
- Invite us to speak to your friends/group or church
- Introduce us to your Missions Committee
- Host a Photo Exhibit
Right now we are collecting items to bring to our girls for Christmas. We need:
- Women's church dresses
- Women's shoes (larger or wider sizes 8-10) Flats or small heel is best
- Women's and toddler/children's jackets/raincoats or sweaters
- Learning toys or books for children/toddlers
- Art supplies (nothing too heavy)
Please send to P.O Box 321
Quinque, VA 22965 by Sept 9th
back to top |
