The Comforter's Center Uganda (pregnancy help center)

2011-06-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

The victories we garnered in the first half of the year would not have been possible without your help and prayers. Thank you for standing with us even in these challenging times. It is not for gain, nor personal adventure, not for glory, nor a good name, but simply for the One who called us by name. All of us at the Comforter’s Center continue to volunteer for this high calling. Like people giving the ultimate sacrifice of securing the freedom of others, we continue in our small way to secure the freedom of others for whom there is a lack of freedom to live and an absence of hope or love. It greatly warms our heart that those we serve have heard the message of a loving God and seen His love transforming their lives for good.

Mama Mwemalo, I couldn’t go ahead to abort after reading the brochures and some pamphlets I got from The comforters Center. After a positive pregnancy test, my boy friend ( A married man) threaten to abandon me, I told him,, love me or not I will carry this pregnancy. He stopped coming to see me and could not pick my calls any more. When I went to the Scan, I found out had twins. Not only did it cause me to stop and think about my life, but my babies's live too

We are learning so much from our experiences in the last few years we have been operating the pregnancy center, and we’re encouraged to know that what we are able to do is definitely impacting our communities in a positive way.

This brings me back to you: our faithful friends, without whom our efforts would’ve been much more difficult and perhaps improbable … thank you so much!

Standing for life in Uganda

Veronica Nakyewe
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6)

Executive Director
The Comforter’s Center

P.O.BOX 35623 Kampala- Uganda
Tel: +256-312113635 (Office)
:+256-774-179786 ( Cell-phone)
E-mail: ourcomforter@yahoo.com
http://comfortercenteruganda.wordpress.com
http://thecomforterscenteruganda.blogspot.com

2011-03-11T00:28:00.000-08:00

Many thanks and blessings to the mission Team lead by sister Talitha Philips to Uganda February 2011, we enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship with you. “Have you ever felt like a friend or someone you met was literally a Godsend in your life”? That was the case when one of the team member met with our client Rose Nanyonga. Like many of our clients, Rose was in a complicated situation but when she met Maria Vargo, were ultimately able to bless each other’s lives, all according to God’s plan. He is a God who restores, provides, and heals! I guess along with that, you may never know what a day may bring. Maria and Talitha spared two days to couch and mentor us in Abstinence Education presentations and techniques in a modern way. Our colleague from Jinja Pregnancy Help Center was also invited to attend the second day.

MAMA KIT

We are giving out 600 MAMA Kit to pregnant mothers who could not afford the basic necessities during delivery. It is easy to use, to ensure clean and safe delivery. Using it during delivery can help prevent TETANUS, SEPSIS, HIV, EYE INFECTIONS and LOW IMMUNITY. MAMA KIT'S Contains essential materials to use after delivery such as soap, polythene sheet, pads, gloves, baby sheets, and other necessities. Each costs 7000/= Sh or $3.5 and this is how you can help by following this link : http://www.kaminternational.org/aliyah_joy.html or call 0312113635 or e-mail;ourcomforter@yahoo.com

The Comforter's Center Needs your support in saving lives

2010-07-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

Monica’s testimony

My name is Monica; I am giving a testimony on how the comforter’s center helped me to make a decision which I am very proud of.

One day, I woke up early in the morning not feeling very well. As a woman, I suspected that I would be pregnant though I was not sure. So I went and talked to my friend who advised me to go for a pregnancy test. She directed me to a place where they carry out free pregnancy tests and she told that it is called the comforter’s center. The following day, I prepared myself and came to the center. My reason for visiting was to carry out a pregnancy test which they did. After the test, the result showed I was positive which means, I was pregnant. When the results were showed to me, I could not pretend that all was well. I was a married woman but I had very many problems. My husband, who has other three children from another woman, did not want me to have another baby very soon and he had already warned me about it. So, the news came as a shock to me. In addition to that, I am just a house wife who has nothing to contribute to the family’s welfare. My husband was also not earning enough money to cater for five children.

Immediately after seeing the test results, I asked the counselor if she could help me to carry out an abortion. I did not know the kind of person I was talking to. I thought that the center could help me to abort my baby which wasn’t the case. Instead, the counselor talked to me about the life of an unborn child and talked more about the dangers of abortion. I left the center very worried on how I was going to tell my husband.

When I reached home, my husband was still at work. So I waited for him but still wondering how I was going to break the news to him. By God’s grace I developed courage and talked to him. He reacted bitterly and told me that he was going to look for money such that I can go to the clinic and end that pregnancy. Since the counselor at the center had already explained to me about abortion procedures, I became scared and told him that I was not ready for an abortion. But all this fell on a deaf ear because he insisted that I go and have an abortion or else I leave his house.

The following day, I returned to the center because I was very desperate. I again talked to the counselor who told me that she would pray for me and asked me if it was possible for me to invite my husband such that they could also talk to him. I told her that it was okay with me though in my heart I was not sure that he would accept to come. Lucky enough, when I talked to him, he accepted to come to the center. We came together and had a talk with the counselor. It was not easy to convince him to accept the pregnancy but where God is, everything is possible. He later accepted the pregnancy on one condition that the center assists me during the pregnancy. This wasn’t a problem with them because all they wanted was to save the baby that I was carrying.

On 3rd June 2010, I gave birth to a bouncing baby boy whom I named Akello David. David surprised the nurses who helped me in the hospital. On his arrival, he looked like a one month old baby. He is very handsome and he has made me a proud mother of two; a boy and a girl. Whenever I look at him, it reminds me how I was going to miss the joy of seeing him grow. I believe it wasn’t the comforter’s center; I would have ended the life of David. I believe that God who saved David from abortion will also provide for us everything we need to look after him.
I thank God for bringing me to the Center and thank them very much for the great work they are doing in saving the lives of innocent babies.
Thank you very much and God bless you abundantly.

Abortion affect women

2010-04-30T02:21:00.000-07:00

Just like any other condition that takes out humanlife, abortion affects women. Those who are affected can find themselves having problems with a common set of physical or emotional issues. After an abortion it's possible that a woman will have some normal feelings of grief, guilt, sadness, crying and loss. If the feelings become severe, interfere with her daily activities, persist for a long period of time, or lead to other more serious problems, she may be suffering from PASS

The Post-Abortion Bible Study used at The Comforter’s Center is called "Binding up the Brokenhearted"from The Healing hearts ministries.
Healing Hearts Ministries was formed in 1988 by Sue Liljenberg and her husband Gary. Sue personally experienced an abortion in 1972 at the age of 17, and for many years suffered both emotionally and physically. In 1982, she was given hope for her life when someone loved her enough to tell her about Jesus and how He died on a cross to pay the penalty for her sin. She received Jesus into her life and knew that she would never be the same again, but she also knew that there was something keeping her from a deeper walk with God; something that kept her thoughts captive and ruled her life. That something just happened to be her abortion, and the realization that she took the life of the only baby she would ever conceive. After seeking help from physicians and psychologists with no lasting results, she turned to the only source that she knew: the God who saved her and His Word.
For several years God walked Sue through the Scriptures. As she learned the truth in God's Word regarding her sin, which she was in Christ and how much God loved her, healing came. She knew this healing was not just temporary but eternal, and she longed to show other women how they, too, could become whole again. She began writing a Bible Study entitled "Binding up the Brokenhearted" so other women could walk the road she had already walked and find hope and healing for their lives.
After several years of counseling post-abortive women, Sue decided it was time to train these women so they could reach out and help others. In 2007, sue her self travelled to Uganda for the first time to train coordinators of the Binding up the broken hearted. And more than 100 women have received healing through this Bible Study.Because of the tremendous success of ministering to the brokenhearted Sue has authored a nother Bible study entitled "The Hem of His Garment" to will help those who have not had abortions but have areas of their lives that need a healing touch from the Lord
On Saturday 24th April 2010, The Comforter’s Center held a conference with the theme: Healing Sister’s Heart’s”.
The conference started as early as 10:00am with praise and worship together with 2 sisters from the Healing hearts International ministries. In the USA. www.healinghearts.org.
Healing hearts sister began the conference by sharing with women their testimony. It was really a very touching testimony and most women were surprised to learn what their fellow sisters from the USA went through. After sue Sanford had shared her testimony, she invited her colleague Camille to also talk to the ladies. After hearing Sue’s testimony, women were eager to hear from her friend Camille because Sue’s testimony had already touched their heart. They had already realized that African women are not the only one who have problems but also the whites too. Unlike Sue’s testimony, Camille’s was an odd one. Camille lost two babies almost at the same time. One was due to an abortion that she did out of anger and another one was due to her boyfriend’s fault. Her boyfriend raped her daughter and when she was taken to the hospital, the baby died. This was too much for her. During that time, Camille was pregnant with her boyfriend’s child, the one who had raped her daughter and when her daughter died, she could not see herself carrying the child of a rapist. She had to abort that baby something that made her to develop certain behaviors like taking drugs, drinking alcohol yet she was a Christian.

After hearing the two testimonies, you cannot believe what most women felt. They became very strong and courageous. They realized that women throughout the world face almost similar challenges/problems. It was now time for the ladies also to share their life testimonies and give their ideas. This time, there was no fear. Every woman was ready to share her testimony with the facilitators. It was really very wonderful and women learnt a lot from each other.

After they had shared their testimonies, the facilitators encouraged women to be Christ Ambassadors. The facilitators told women that sitting in church on Sundays is good but God wants them to do more than that. She encouraged them to start from their families/communities to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sue told women that our problems will not be solved as long as we bring people closer to God. She encouraged women who have undergone abortions to ask for God’s forgiveness and guidance and never to do it again and to take the gospel of life to fellow women as well as men in their churches.

Camille on the other hand also encouraged women to join the Healing Hearts Bible study which is called the, “The Hem of his Garment”. She told women that going through this bible study will really change their lives as well as strengthen them in spirit. She also encouraged women to come to the comforter’s to be trained such that they can be able to take the bible study in their churches.

At around 5:30pm, the conference was closed. In her closing remarks, the Director Comforter’s Center thanked all the participants and she told women who attended that it was God’s blessing that they were among the women who were invited. She told them that God wants to use them to reach out to women have not been preached to and she also encouraged them to come to the center for more training. All in all, the conference was very wonderful and we thank God for making everything possible.

April is Abortion Recovery Awareness Month and Jackie’s testimony;

2010-04-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

April is Abortion Recovery Awareness Month. And Jackie’s’ testimony

While the number of women who suffer post-abortion trauma is unknown, the characteristics of women most likely to suffer severe post-abortion problems have been identified. The new life, little one, being created inside her physically, and to whom she is attached at some level emotionally, psychologically and spiritually has been taken from her
Abortion is unnatural and is generally not acknowledged as a death-event, and because abortion grief is not societal recognized and accepted many women feel isolated and alone with their grief and anguish. It can help to talk it through with someone uninvolved, who has special skills in caring and listening, and knowledge of abortion-specific effects and issues.
Contact The Comforter’s Center for more information on how you can get abortion recovery services. +256312113635 or e-mail:ourcomforter@yahoo.com.
Jackie’s testimony;
There are certain things that we do that keeps on haunting us and sometimes we think that nothing can change that situation. Some times we receive clients who have a feeling that what they did was unthinkable and no one can forgive them including God. But by God’s grace, we able to counsel these ladies and make them realize that their situation can be changed as long as they trust in God and believe that there is nothing impossible with God. This is a story of a 24 year old lady who came to our center feeling guilty of her past abortion.

I am called Jackie Onencher and married with one child. One day, I was going to town and on my way I saw a sign post by the name of The Comforter’s Center. On that sign post, there were several activities that they do at the center but what touched me most was Post abortion counseling. The reason why it touched me was two years before I got married, I was involved in a relationship with another man and I became pregnant. I realized that this man did not care about me and I had to abort that baby. After carrying out that abortion, I read an article which says when you have an abortion; you are at a risk of not giving birth or becoming infertile.

So, a year after I got married, I could not see any signs of pregnancy. We tried all means but still I could not become pregnant. I thought that may be the abortion I had made me infertile. When I was still dating this man, I told him about my past relationships including the abortion that I had. So when I failed to become pregnant he also became suspicious. The situation became worse when his relatives started pressuring him that he married a barren woman because they did not believe that you can stay with a man for a year and fail to get pregnant.

Two days after reading the sign post, I made a decision and came to The Comforter’s Center for Post abortion counseling. When I reached at the center, I was welcomed by the counselor who made me develop a feeling that I was really in a right place. Inside my heart, I was feeling ashamed to talk about what I did. I knew abortion was bad and I knew that God will never forgive me because I had already read in that article that abortion is sin and murder of an innocent child. I was really condemning my self for the sin of murder. But when I started this counseling, it really helped me to know that abortion is not the end of everything.

The counselor told me to join the bible study called The Healing Hearts for women who are facing post abortion trauma and I welcomed the idea. Few days after I had started the study, I realized a big change in my life. I came to know that if you confess your sins, God is a kind and forgiving God and he can forgive you which I did. Through prayers also, the counselor made me develop faith that I was going to have children.

Two months after visiting the center, I came back for a pregnancy test. I had not seen my periods and I developed a feeling that I might be pregnant. Guess what! The test was positive. I was very excited and immediately I called my husband and gave him the news. He was also very happy. By that time I had not finished the bible study but I did not give up. I kept on praying to God to protect my baby and my life.

On February 27th 2010, I gave birth to a baby boy whom we named Godwin Layika and I am really proud of him. Actually this came as a surprise to everyone in my husband’s family because anyone who gives birth to a baby boy dies on the spot but mine is alive and very healthy. I give glory to God and I pray that he keeps on protecting my baby.

Finally, I thank The Comforter’s Center for their services because Post Abortion Counseling brought me hope that I had lost and it made me realize that when you trust in God, He is able to do anything that you need in life.

By
Sister Joy

Abstinence Education

2010-04-06T02:49:00.000-07:00

Each time we visit a school or community to talk about sexual abstinence, we usually learn some new ideas. Sometimes I ask myself what is really happening to our teenagers. In most schools that we visited this month of March, the ideas we got from the teenagers were almost the same. Sexual abstinence is not an easy topic to introduce to some one who has never heard about it. Before we do anything, we usually ask God’s grace to be with us as we share our views with teenagers. Some teenagers take sexual abstinence as a joke and they tend to believe that they are big enough to involve in sexual relations.

In one of the schools we visited, we were surprised to learn of what was happening in that school. You cannot imagine what we found there. We believe that God directed us to that school. This school has a population of almost 2000 students and most of which come from slum areas of Kawempe a Kampala suburb. Prior to our visit in this particular school, they had organized a pregnancy check up for all the girls. There were some girls who were suspected to be pregnant. To their surprise, this came out to be true. After the check up was done, the tests revealed that two girls were pregnant while other three girls had abortions.

As we were still in that school, I managed to talk to one of the girls who had an abortion. This girl told me that she could not believe the fact that she was pregnant. I used to go out with this man but I never thought about pregnancy but the day I missed my periods, I became very nervous. I went for a pregnancy check up and I found out that I was pregnant. I went and talked to my boyfriend and he did not deny it. But still I had a lot of thoughts because my mother was not aware and telling her that I was pregnant it would break her heart. My boyfriend one day told me to meet him at the clinic. He had arranged with the nurse to carry out an abortion. When I arrived at the clinic, she took me into a room and did what she did and minutes later I started bleeding and she told me that I had lost my baby. This was an experience that I will never forget in my life. Actually when they talked to us about abortion, I realized the terrible mistake I made by engaging into sexual practices and I promise not to do it again
Justine Asiimwe

Abortion Policy in Uganda

2010-03-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Grounds on which abortion is permitted:

To save the life of the woman Yes
To preserve physical health Yes
To preserve mental health Yes
Rape or incest No
Foetal impairment No
Economic or social reasons No
Available on request No

Additional requirements:

A legal abortion must be performed by a registered physician. Although the law does not require the approval of a committee, the consent of two physicians is usually sought before a legal abortion can be performed.

Government view on fertility level: Too high

Government intervention concerning fertility level: To lower

Government policy on contraceptive use: Direct support provided

Percentage of currently married women using
modern contraception (aged 15-49, 1995): 8

Total fertility rate (1995-2000): 7.1

Age-specific fertility rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19, 1995-2000): 180

Government has expressed particular concern about:
Morbidity and mortality resulting from induced abortion Yes
Complications of childbearing and childbirth Yes

Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births, 1990):
National 1 200
Eastern Africa 1 060

Female life expectancy at birth (1995-2000): 40.4

BACKGROUND

Under the Ugandan Penal Code of 15 June 1950 (sections 136-138, 205 and 217) the performance of abortions is generally prohibited. Any person who, with intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman, unlawfully administers any noxious thing or uses any means is subject to imprisonment for fourteen years. A pregnant woman who undertakes the same act or consents to its performance is subject to seven years’ imprisonment. Any person who unlawfully supplies means to procure an abortion knowing that it is unlawfully intended for that purpose is subject to three years’ imprisonment.

Nonetheless, under other provisions of the Penal Code an abortion may be performed to save the life of a pregnant woman. Section 217 of the Code provides that a person is not criminally responsible for performing in good faith and with reasonable care and skill a surgical operation upon an unborn child for the preservation of the mother’s life if the performance of the operation is reasonable, having regard to the patient’s state at the time and to all the circumstances of the case. In addition, Section 205 of the Code provides that no person shall be guilty of the offence of causing by willful act a child to die before it has an independent existence from its mother if the act was carried out in good faith for the purpose of preserving the mother’s life.

Moreover, Uganda, like a number of Commonwealth countries, whose legal systems are based the English common law, follows the holding of the 1938 English Rex v. Bourne decision in determining whether an abortion performed for health reasons is lawful. In the Bourne decision, a physician was acquitted of the offence of performing an abortion in the case of a woman who had been raped. The court ruled that the abortion was lawful because it had been performed to prevent the woman from becoming “a physical and mental wreck”, thus setting a precedent for future abortion cases performed on the grounds of preserving the pregnant woman’s physical and mental health. The liberalization and legality of abortion in Uganda has been complicated by the use of rape as a weapon of war and terror by rebel groups in the region.

Illegal abortions are common in Uganda. As a result, there is a high level of maternal mortality, estimated in 1990 at 1,200 deaths per 100,000 live births. A 1986 study found that 35 per cent of maternal deaths were linked to complications from unsafe abortion. Induced abortion has been ranked as the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the main referral hospital in Uganda. Illegal abortion is more prevalent among young women. A survey carried out in 1988 among women aged 15-24 years found that 23 per cent of all the women that had ever been pregnant had had one or more abortions. The Government has expressed serious concern over these trends. The high level of induced abortion among young women in Uganda has led the Government to establish family life education programmes in primary and secondary schools.

2010-02-02T05:18:00.000-08:00

Reading this article in the New vision, “half of the maternal deaths in Africa are due to abortion” actually made me feel awful about this act. The article went a head to state that 54% of all maternal death in Africa (Uganda included) is due to unsafe abortions. Abortion is something that happens in our society but people fear to come out and speak about it. Abortion has claimed very many lives of innocent children and even their mothers and is still a disaster in Uganda. What amuses me is that people believe that a child who is not born is not a human being. Worse still, the laws do not protect these children. At comforters center, we believe that every child born or unborn is a human being in the eyes of God. We believe that life begins at conception and children needs to be protected no matter the environment where they live. People have come up with different ideas to promote abortion in Uganda.

Recently, we received a client who came for a pregnancy test. After the test, she found out that she was pregnant. The lady became distressed after the test because this lady has a child who less than a year. So after the test, she felt so bad. She even told the counselor who attended to her that she was going to abort that baby because she cannot manage to take care of two babies. But through counseling, this lady changed her mind and decided to carry her pregnancy. But the question is, should a person terminate the life of her child just because she has another child? At comforter’s center we believe that each child is a blessing and God gives you a child for a purpose. So whether you have ten children or more it should not justify abortion.

Women have been confessing to us that their husbands are forcing them to have abortion because they fear their responsibilities. They do not know what happens when a woman carries out an abortion. They even do not know the procedures these ladies go through and their effects. We have heard cases of women who die of abortion due over breeding but this has not stopped them carrying out abortions. This is a reason why the comforter’s center wishes to carry out outreaches to makes sure the life of the unborn child is protected.

Despite our efforts and government’s effort to sensitize the youth about sexual abstinence, teenagers are still being sexually active at an early age. To some girls, this is not due to their own making but because of immoral men who have made their lives unhappy. You might think that girls go out with men because they like it but to some girls it is the other way round. Studies have shown that some girls in Uganda are sexually active due to rape, incest and unwanted sexual experiences.

The comforter’s center international has been carrying out sexual abstinence with the aim of sharing the message of sexual abstinence among teenagers. With this program, we have been interacting with the youth as our target group. But from what is on the ground, the message of sexual abstinence needs to be shared among even the parents, teachers and everyone in the society. Girls below the age of 15 have been forced by men who are even ten years older than them. This is really a shameful act. People who would be protecting these children are now becoming a threat to them.

Recently in the newspapers, there was an article which stated that “Defilers removed on the payroll”. The writer was referring to one of the districts in Uganda (Kasese) where teachers are taking advantage of innocent children and sleeping with them. These teachers usually send these girls to take items to their places like books for marking and they follow them and force them to sleep with them. This incidence happened in Kasese but this is the act that is happening in all the districts of Uganda. Children are raped, made pregnant and at the end of the day, the culprit is left free. Teachers are people believed to be the role models but they bend themselves very low and sleep with young children. In Uganda, we all know that defilement is a crime and is charged in the courts of law. But what is done to these shameless teachers and men who defile these young girls? Will removing them from the payroll solve the problem of defilement? What else can be done?

THE COMFORTER’S CENTER REPORT ON ABSTINENCE EDUCATION OUTREACHES TO COMMUNITIES

2010-01-19T05:04:00.000-08:00

As part our mission of promoting sexual abstinence among the teenagers in Uganda, the comforter’s center is planning to carry out many out reaches to make sure that the message of sexual abstinence is taught among all the youth in Uganda in 2010.

To begin with, on the 13th January 2010, the abstinence education team from The Comforter’s Center visited Hope for Children Uganda. Hope for children is a non governmental organization located in Namuwongo-Kampala. This organization takes care of vulnerable children who live in the slums of Namuwongo (Soweto and Kanyogoga). This organization has more than one hundred children between the ages of 8-14years and some of them are orphans who lost their parents due to HIV/AIDs scourge.

As we reached the place, we were introduced to the children who were seated in a room. These children looked to be young and innocent. In fact we asked ourselves how we were going to introduce a topic concerning sex to them. We first asked their director and she told us that those children are young in years but old in the way they think and reason or react to certain things. She told us that these are children who have grown up in poor conditions; first of all they stay in bad places (Slums) and are exposed to all kinds of life. They have grown up in poverty and usually they can do anything in life to make their ends meet and to survive. They share single rooms with their parents, are exposed to bad groups especially drunkards, people who take drugs and video halls. All these make then vulnerable to bad behaviours including being exposed to sexual behaviours through watching bad movies.

During our discussion with the children, we were surprised to hear what came from the mouth of these young children who looked to be innocent. We realized that those young children knew what sex means. We discussed with the children what sexual abstinence means and why they should avoid it. We also told them about the benefits of avoiding sexual activities before marriage which include being free from unwanted pregnancies as well as STDs/STIs and the only way to live a good life. From our discussion we observed that the reason why teenagers are sexually active at an early age is due to peer pressure, taking drugs/alcohol, media influence/pornography, poverty to mention but a few. We tried to sensitize the children that they should try as much as possible to avoid such risky behaviours and think about their future dreams and goals. We also talked to them that avoiding sexual activities before marriage will enable them to become responsible people in their later years.

On a similar mission, on 16th January, The Comforter’s center also visited Jesus Christian Center, a church located in Busega-Kampala. The church invited us to sensitize their youth about sexual abstinence. The number of people who attended was 35 and most of them were actually youth. During our discussion with them, we realized that children all over the country have similar reasons why they practice sexual activities before marriage. We also talked to them about dangers of pre-marital sex including unwanted pregnancies, abortions which can lead to death, Sexually Transmitted Diseases/infections (STDs/STIs), and other emotional problems. We tried as much as possible to teach them ways to avoid sexual activities including avoiding peer pressure, avoiding alcohol/drugs, avoid indecent dressing to mention but a few. We talked to them that if they are willing to abstain from sex until they get married; they will enjoy their youth life, plan for their future and live a better and good life without worrying about the above consequences.

As we were talking to the youth, we realized that our families/parents have also contributed much to the early sexual activities among the youth. Parents no longer have time for their youth since they are usually busy at their work places. Working is not good but they should reserve time for their children. In addition to that, the youth have also been taken up by the media. They think that whatever they see on televisions or via the internet is good and they tend to copy bad behaviours which are not good in our societies.

The most sensitive topic of the day was abortion. It was discussed that life is a gift from God, and every life is valuable and sacred before Him. We discussed that we were created in the image of God so we should value every kind of life that is born or pre-born. We discussed abortion as sin before God and that it destroys our image as children of God. We talked to them that abortion is sin but it can be cleansed, and the only one who can take away that sin is Jesus Christ. It was at this time that one of the participants confessed that she had an abortion.

Betty’s confession

During our visit at Jesus Christian center, one of the girls called Betty confessed to us the trauma she is going through due to an abortion she had some two years back. Betty post-abortive has been facing a terrible moment since she had her abortion two years ago in January 2008. After realizing that she was pregnant, Betty went to talk to her boyfriend about it but unfortunately, he denied the pregnancy. She became disappointed at that particular time, she had no one to help her and she took a personal decision to abort without consulting any one. Her confession came after presenting a message on life and abortion and mentioning some of the symptoms which come as a result of the sin of abortion. Betty said that since she carried out that abortion, she has been experiencing guilt and self condemnation after terminating a pregnancy of four months. Betty thought that no one could ever forgive her for aborting her baby. However, after presenting the message about the value of life and about the love of Jesus Christ, she came and confessed. She said that if anyone had ever talked to her about abortion and life like the comforter’s center has done by that time, she would have saved the life of her baby. We prayed for her and she promised to start on the Healing Hearts Bible Study.

Betty is not the only person who is going through that Trauma. We know that there are very many girls who are going through a similar situation only that they do not have any one to help them. That’s why the comforter’s center is doing its duty of helping teenagers to avoid risky behaviours and live a better life through its sexual abstinence program.

Uganda: Bitamazire is Admitting Failure of Her Ministry!

2010-01-14T03:03:00.000-08:00

UGANDA'S minister of Education and Sports, Namirembe Bitamazire, announced over the weekend that she may seek to ban pregnant students from sitting examinations. The current policy expels pregnant students but allows them to sit for examinations.

Such drastic action according to the minister is needed because "If we allow this trend to continue, we may have to train teachers as midwives." She added, "This is immorality and it should be discouraged." Now, to avoid dead-end education policy aimed at scoring cheap political points, the Ministry of Education needs to carefully study the problem of teenage pregnancy, looking at current global research that speaks to what works in reducing the problem.

A good starting point for the good minister and her officials is the report for the Guttmacher Institute written by Singh et al (2006) entitled "Unintended Pregnancy and Induced Abortion in Uganda: Causes and Consequences". According to the study, an estimated 297,000 induced abortions are performed each year in Uganda, meaning a yearly abortion rate of 54 per 1,000 women aged 15-49. It is safe to assume that a significant percentage of these unsafe abortions are being carried out by stigmatised, scared school students who see getting rid of the unborn foetuses as the only way to avoid social ridicule and oppressive school policies.

Indeed, to follow the minister's logic, draconian school policies that punish would-be teenage mothers would be the perfect answer to this national tragedy. In other words, for the pregnant student, the minister's policy would give just two choices-lose the baby before it is born or forever stay away from school. Indeed the Guttmacher report makes the important observation that the Uganda school system is woefully inadequate in educating school boys and girls about healthy sexuality. For the most part, school children rely on self-education from peers who also know next to nothing about the subject. As it noted, a survey reported that 44 percent of boys and 50 percent of girls aged 15-19 had never participated in a classroom discussion of sexuality. Moreover, a good chunk of these sexually ignorant pupils had not attended an education talk on sex before experiencing their first sexual encounters.

What is clear is that Minister Bitamazire is covering up for the utter failure of her ministry to tackle the problem of teenage pregnancy in a constructive non-threatening fashion. This catastrophic failure means that thousands of perfectly literate children do not know much about their sexuality, how to respect their bodies and, most important, prevent unwanted pregnancy. She is still of the old school that believes that the best discipline is by naming and shaming the students. This old-fashion idea will surely see young pregnant teenagers go underground, seek potentially deadly ways by which to abort thereby not only killing the unborn babies but possibly put the lives of the young mothers at risk.

Now, compare this with humane school policies in America, Canada, Britain and other developed countries where teenage pregnancy has gone way down. In these countries, education authorities, well aware that stopping pregnant teens from going to school will make them dependent on the state or on relatives, support their needs for completing their education. In Canada, teenage pregnancy has steadily declined from a 1974 high of 53.9 per 1,000 population ages 15 to 19, to 32.1 in 2003.

Similar trends are evident in the United States where teen childbearing has steadily dropped over the years, from a high of 96 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 1957 to 49 in 2000. The interesting thing here is that instead of wielding big moral stick with which to beat wayward teenagers who may risk getting pregnant, schools encourage children to become informed about sexuality.

The education curriculum in these countries deliberately confront teenage sexuality with facts not fiction, allowing young people to feel safe inside the classroom rather than in the back alleys asking questions about their changing bodies. Sexuality is openly talked about, enabling young teenagers to feel empowered in making choices out of knowledge rather than through artificial fear. Consequently, teenage pregnancy continues to drop as teenagers learn more about healthy sexuality including abstinence and using safe contraceptive methods.

What the Uganda teenage pregnancy cries out for is a need for more education not intimidation through high flying moral grandstanding. A step in the right direction is the collaboration between schools and the privately funded "Young Talk" for primary school pupils between the ages of 10 to 14 and "Straight Talk" for the older teens between 15 and 19. These two publications carry positive messages about relationships, growing up, delaying sex, using a condom, and preventing HIV/STDs and testing for HIV. But the number of children getting this vital information is quite small when one considers the large population of sexually active teenagers in Uganda.

With regard to the issue of morality, the minister should consider these questions before she goes about banning pregnant students from sitting examination. Foremost, which is immoral, the lustful men out there preying on teenage children to quench their sexual appetites, getting them pregnant and then leaving then as unwed teen mothers without a shilling to care for the babies or the vulnerable young teenage girls? Which is more immoral, the fact that these girls got pregnant through ignorance or the fact that the very school system that is charged with their safety, health, welfare and education has utterly failed them at the crucial moment in their adolescent years?

And, finally, what is more immoral than denying young mothers opportunity to complete school so that they have opportunities to care for their families? Mrs. Bitamazire, stop blaming pregnant teenage girls and start teaching them. They might actually learn something.

http://allafrica.com/

January is the sanctity of human life month

2010-01-12T23:19:00.000-08:00

Everybody has a story. No matter our background, our culture, our financial position, our goals and dreams; inside each of us is an unwritten and often untold story. Over the last few years here at The Comforter’s Center, there have been & continue to be many stories, many accounts of lives saved and changed forever because of the Power of Jesus and His love for all life including life in the womb. Christians around the world share the horror at the pernicious cancer of abortion within their countries.
Strength comes in the knowledge that we are all members of one body; each of us is blessed with individual abilities to edify our sisters and brothers and to enlarge the Kingdom of God . Abortion has produced a vast mission field into which laborers must venture to sow seeds of truth and win souls for Christ
Poverty, restricted access to transportation and communication, and gender inequity, however, often prevent the development, growth, and operation of life-giving ministries of The Comforter’s Center. These obstacles faced by The Comforter’s centers provide an opportunity to lend a hand and help make great things happen in Uganda
While the mission field created by abortion is immense, each word spoken, each prayer offered, each seed carefully planted is important and will bear fruit for a testament to the boundless grace of Jesus

Together we can save one body of unborn child and the soul of the mother one at a time; we can make a difference in our world at such a time like this.

We pray God's absolute best upon your life during this month of the sanctity of human life

Happy New year

2010-01-04T23:31:00.000-08:00

The Comforter’s Center-Uganda wishes to congratulate all its partners and friends for having successfully completed 2009. As we are beginning this New Year (2010), we would like to thank our dear Lord for protecting us throughout this festive season. We know a lot of things have happened during this festive season. Some people have died of accidents, some have fallen sick and others have faced different challenges but we glorify God for protecting us and bringing us back safely to our office.

We had closed the office for Christmas celebrations on 23rd Dec, 2009 but now that the festive season is over the center have resumed our work. 2009 has been a blessing not only to The Comforter’s Center but also to our clients as well. Since it has been a blessing to the comforter’s center, we do hope that it was a blessing to you all.

Last year we received a lot of visitors both from within and from abroad. They blessed us with items such as baby items like baby clothes, baby shawls, caps to mention but a few. These items that were donated to us were given as material assistance to our clients especially those with crisis pregnancies. In 2009, the center saved very many children from abortion. This is one of the reasons why we exist. Our mission as comforters’ center is to create an environment where every human heart is cherished and protected within strong families. So saving babies from abortion is one of the achievements we had in 2009.

As we begin this New Year, we promise our clients that we will do whatever it takes to make sure that children saved from abortion are protected. We will continue to pray to God to provide for them whatever they need in life. At The Comforter’s Center, we trust and believe that God can do anything in life and we do believe that God created those children for a purpose and He has a plan for them. We will continue to counsel women and to encourage them to move on with their lives. In addition to that, The Comforter’s Center has a project called “The move on sisters”. This project was established by the comforter’s center to help girls who drop out of schools due to crisis pregnancies and this project is here to help our clients to go back to school. We do believe that this project will help these young mothers to be able to take care of their children and live a better life in future. In addition to that it will help these young mothers realize their future goals and dreams.

The comforter’s center in this year i.e. 2010 would like to carry out reach out programs to various districts in Uganda. The center wishes to extend its ministry of protecting the lives of the voiceless unborn children throughout Uganda. The center believes that abortion should be an unthinkable and unnecessary act. The center wishes to educate the public that abortion is harmful emotionally, physically and spiritually to women, men and families, so that no one should think about it as the solution to unwanted pregnancy. In addition to that the center also will continue offering post-abortion counseling to ladies who have had abortions. The center will also continue to reach out to children in schools, in communities, and in churches to teach them about sexual purity or biblical sexuality. We have realized that most women who are faced with crisis pregnancies are school going girls and if they are not exposed to this kind of education then the number of unwanted pregnancies and the rate of acquiring STDs will increase among the young generation. The center also wishes to continue its mission of promoting natural family planning methods among married couples who are also experiencing unwanted pregnancies. This method will include the promotion of the bead cycle among Ugandan women. We do believe that this method will reduce the number of women who unwillingly become pregnant and plan abortion as the only alternative solution.

The center wishes to thank all those who stood with us financially, materially, spiritually and morally in 2009. Whatever you contributed to The Comforter’s Center is highly appreciated. We pray that God blesses you abundantly for supporting us and again we pray that you continue with the heart for the center.

2009-11-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

In Uganda, there are few places where teenagers can informationIt is believed that, some young girls are reported to be sexually active by the age of 8 years. As a result of that, some girls are facing unplanned pregnancies, have at one time tried an abortion, and others are infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) at an early age. The rate at which these young people are becoming sexually active is very alarming. These patterns of behaviour often compromise the once promising futures of a young person. In order to change this pattern of behaviour, intervention is required to give these young people skills on how to avoid these risky behaviours and protect their lives.

In order to achieve the above, the comforter’s center is opening up a teenage resource center to equip it with educational materials about sanctity of human life and messages concerning sexual abstinence, Sexually Transmitted diseases, and create a conducive environment where the youth can share ideas regarding life issues. In addition to that the proposed teenage resource center will educate the youth about abortion and its dangers, promote sexual purity and teach them about biblical sexuality.

This center will be located in Kampala where most children are being affected by the media and are at a high risk of being sexually at a tender age. Children have been exposed to pornography through watching televisions, reading magazines and even the internet. Teenagers in Kampala these days lack information or are shy to talk about sexual issues with their parents as they are busy most of the time. We believe that the teenage resource center will help the youth to expose their views with responsible peple and in the end it will help them make decisions, solve their sexual problems and enable them to make better decisions concerning their life

Protect the life of the next generation of people

2009-11-13T07:47:00.001-08:00

A Great Need

Every year about 44 million women around the world struggle with the decisions surrounding an unexpected pregnancy. The pressure is not only internal -- outside circumstances often add confusion and pressure to the situation. Like this . For a woman in Africa ,there may be no pregnancy center for help in her country and the situation is

Some husband leave their wives to shoulder the situation alone.
Some boyfriends insist their girl friends gets an abortion or he will end their relationship.
Teenagers's parents have arranged for an abortion.
When women are confronted with the difficult circumstances of an unplanned pregnancy, they deserve to be offered not only practical help for now, but also bright hope for the future.
"in almost every case, a woman chooses abortion to accommodate the wishes of others who do not welcome her child."

The finality of an abortion decision and the pressures women experience in an unplanned pregnancy demonstrate The Comforter’s Center. Counseling has the greatest impact when a woman first discovers she is pregnant and faces her fear and confusion. It is at this time of crisis when a young girl or woman needs compassionate help from someone who really cares about both her and her baby.
The Comforter’s Center is a safe place for a woman to think through this life-changing event with someone who is not vested in her decision:

For those who see the pregnancy as a "crisis" where the only way out is abortion.
For those who are unsure about what to do and need counseling and information.
For those who have decided to carry to term and need resources and referrals.
For those who have had an abortion and need post-abortion counseling.
Our Plan
For a woman to make an informed decision about her unplanned pregnancy, it takes the support of a caring helper, information about the growth and development of a baby and the options available in the community. Many outside pressures can make it difficult for her to carefully contemplate the choices placed before her. Whatever decision she makes, her life is changed forever. Reaching out to women one-on-one and recognizing their emotional, spiritual and practical needs is the way in which The Comforter’s Center endeavors to help each woman make a decision from her heart.

The Comforter’s Center's programs and services are designed for crisis intervention to reach women at the most critical time, when the pregnancy is first discovered. Our vision is to provide a support so comprehensive and caring that no woman will choose abortion without being fully informed of her options.

The Comforter’s Center offer the following services: pregnancy testing, pregnancy consultation, ultrasound, short and long-term counseling, referrals for medical care and social services, support groups, client advocacy, parenting information, abstinence and post-abortion counseling.

The Comnforter’s Center is set apart because...

Our services are offered free of charge to anyone, regardless of race or creed, who suspects she may be pregnant, is experiencing an unintended pregnancy, or has chosen an abortion in the past.

Our concern is for the woman, the child, her partner and family.

Our counseling services are specifically designed for women struggling with external pressures due to an unexpected pregnancy.

Our locations offer convenient access to services.

Our volunteer staff is highly trained and works under the direction and supervision of professional counselors.

We desire to be an educational arm to schools, churches, and other community organizations by presenting lively and interactive abstinence-based sexuality training.
Long Term Goals
The following goals are the areas that we will remain focused on over the long term while implementing our current strategies:

Crisis Intervention - Our primary aim is to provide our clients with emotional, spiritual and physical support during their time of crisis. In this regard, we seek to reach more women by developing marketing plans that not only promote The Conforter’s Center but also appeal to a broader spectrum of prospective clients. The ways that we are pursuing this goal are as follows:

Our involvement in radio advertising.

Our involvement, a 24-hour toll-free helpline.

Our community relations plan to reach the medical community and social services sector and offer pregnancy consultation services to their clients.

Abstinence Education - 20 percent of our clients have negative pregnancy test results. We take this opportunity to share the sexual abstinence message with each client, as it is the first line of defense in avoiding unintended pregnancies as well as STDs/STIs. We also take this challenge to middle schools, high schools and youth groups.

Post-Abortion Counseling - Through individual counseling, group sessions and retreats, Alternatives provides a safe place where women and men who experience Post-Abortion Stress can grieve their losses and move forward in strength with their lives.

Expansion - We are pursuing opening additional offices in the Front-Range area. Strong population growth dictates the need for additional community services, including pregnancy care center services. As new communities expand, we want to be there.
ALTERNATIVES Mission Statement
Alternatives Pregnancy Center exists to care for Denver-area women and men in pregnancy-related crises and offer them a meaningful alternative to abortion. Following the example of Christian love, we seek to meet emotional, physical and spiritual needs, enabling and encouraging women to choose life everyday.

goal is to counsel and live the gospel in front of one woman at a time and to preserve the life of one baby at a time. We offer women alternatives to abortion by providing practical care for them and their families through comprehensive education, counseling, material goods, and referrals. In addition, Alternatives seeks to educate young people about sexual abstinence before marriage and to help women find healing and to grieve for their children lost through abortion.

The Comforter’s Center maintains its Christian witness in the secular world by upholding biblical standards of conduct in its ministry. We also desire to educate and involve the Christian business community and churches on the issue of abortion and its ramifications.

Our Funding
The Comfoter’s Center is governed by a local Board of Directors and relies on donations from the community to further its mission..
We receive our funding from gifts and grants from individuals, churches, foundations and corporations, and special events.
If you would like to partner with us and financially invest in the provision of options for women in Uganda please contact us at the phone number below

Contact person: Ms.Veronica Nakyewe
Function Executive Director
Post-mailing: P.O.Box 35623 Kampala
Telephone: +256312113635
Cell Phone: +256782102251
E-mail: ourcomforter@yahoo.com

About The comforter's Center in Uganda

2009-11-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

The purpose and the work of The Comforter’s Center is here summarized from the word “Comfort”

COMFORT

C: Christ-centered
The comforter’s center is a Christ centered ministry that is committed to the promotion and preservation of life. Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and came that we might have abundant and meaningful life (John 10:10). Jesus never took a life but instead gave His Life for us. Jesus taught that the enemy is all about death and looks for every opportunity “to steal, kill, and to destroy”(john 10:10). His destructive agenda extends to the womb.

O: Obedient
The comforter’s center is obedient to the command of Christ. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). The Father sent Jesus on a rescue mission to a dangerous place. We too must be wiling to rescue those in danger and in dangerous places including the womb.
Mother Teresa understood what it means to be on a rescue mission. She said, “Unborn children are among the poorest of the poor. They are so close to God. I see God in the eyes of every child-every unwanted child is welcomed by us …. You know, people worry all the time about innocent children being killed in wars, and they try to prevent this. But what hope is there in stopping it if mothers kill their own children? Every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances.”

M. Mandate

The comforter’s center has a mandate to speak for those who have no voice. Proverbs 31:8 states, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Children in the womb have no voice. They cannot speak up for themselves. They cannot say to an abortion-minded mother, “please let me live. Please do not harm me. Please do not allow me to be torn limb from limb.
God has always been concerned about the weak and vulnerable and at risk than any other members of society. If I am in danger, I can take steps to seek safety. I can move to a more secure home or neighborhood or community. However, if a child in the womb is in danger, it cannot move to a safer womb. We must therefore speak on behalf of the unborn.

F: Families:
The comforter’s center recognizes that families are important. Psalm 127:1 declares “unless the Lord builds the house, its builders’ labor in vain.” God loves the home so much that He is willing to roll up His Divine sleeves to help families build strong and safe and destroy the home. The comforter’s center helps families in crisis to seek God and to make choices that honor him.

O: Orientation
The comforter’s center offers orientation and guidance to those facing unplanned pregnancies. People in crisis can easily make wrong choices or turn in wrong directions. Young women with unplanned pregnancies are easily confused about what to do and where to turn. The comforter’s center exists to orient women towards life. When women come to the center, the staff embraces them with unconditional love and encouragement.
R: Rely
The comforter’s center relies on God to work through His people. Veronica and her staff cannot do their life-saving work alone. They need the cooperation and assistance of local Churches and individual Christians. We need resources to carry out rescue missions. We must hold the ropes for the comforter’s center even as those who helped Paul escape from Damascus held the ropes for him (See Acts 9:25)
T= Tell
The comforter’s center faithfully tells the story of God’s love to every person who walks through their doors. To date, more than 800 women and family members and friends of abortion-minded women have placed their faith in Christ because of the ministry of the comforter’s center. God is using The comforter’s center to help people find new life in Christ and babies in the womb to have an opportunity to live.

Contact us

By min-bus /tax
From The International Hospital Kampala In the corner with Red gate before Namuwongo stage
See: The Sign: The Comforter’s Center
Postmailing
P.O.BOX 35623 Kampala-Uganda
Telephone:
+256312113635
+256312106812
E-mail: ourcomforter@yahoo.com