Breakthrough
 The last month since we've been back in Gulu has been so sweet. I've seen promises made over several years, come to fulfillment in a moment, in a day. I've seen new hope restored.
In the third year...
This is the beginning of our THIRD year in Gulu and I believe we have had the breakthrough I've been crying out to God for. All the tears, all the prayers, have been birthing this moment. All the rocky ground we plowed in the hardened hearts of girls and women who had seen too much pain--we are now seeing HEALING and WHOLENESS and FAITH that we only dreamed of.
This April I celebrate not only the heavy rains that soak the dusty ground, but also the goodness of God to those who wait for Him.
(Photo of a woman testifying to being healed of chest pain)
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Team Time
 We had TWO fabulous teams here during the month of March. The first from Alethia Church in Harrisonburg, VA who ran Counseling Trainings for our staff on working with abused children and loved on all our little girls. We had an incredible time ministering to our Congolese sex-workers in an Outreach in Kasubi slum as we prayed over them and blessed all of their homes.
One woman, was deeply touched as she had recently lost 3 children in a hut-fire which was set because of hatred towards her work. As we prayed for her and hugged her, tears rolled down her face to know that God sent us there because He cares about her pain.
The Miraculous....
Then, we were SO blessed to have a team of 14 from Bethel in Redding, CA! We hosted a Women's Conference for vulnerable women and had 150-200 women and children come to receive teaching and healing. God showed up in MIRACULOUS ways! We had testimony after testimony of physical healings. One woman who came with a bad limp had her leg COMPLETELY healed and was dancing by the end of the day!!! Another woman heard God tell her to go to the church where we were and God healed her from years of chest pain!!
What was most precious to me, though were the stories of emotional healing. One Congolese woman was able to forgive her father for hurting her and felt such JOY afterwards that she gave her life to Jesus. It was an amazing time!
For me, it was very special because I saw so much breakthrough that I have been praying for. God ministered to Tyson and I personally so much and gave us new words about CITY-WIDE TRANSFORMATION to hold onto for this year.
I found, I couldn't stop smiling the entire time the team was here :)
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Our Healing Center
 After months of dreaming, we are finally going to open a Healing Center
in Gulu in May!! God's provision has just completely OVERWHELMED me! We found a PERFECT place to rent just near where most of the population we serve, lives. This space is large enough to use for both group and individual counseling, as well as an office space for Zion Project (so we can be more legitimate :) We will also be a crisis and referral center for survivors of gender based violence. I am working on developing a counseling curriculum and am SUPER excited this is becoming a reality!
Partnerships
Another big development, is that God has led us into an exciting new partnership with Pastor Ron and Joy, an amazing missionary couple from Kenya serving in Gulu who have become dear to our hearts and who have been helping to disciple a lot of our Congolese women. As far as pastors go---they are EXACTLY what we've been interceding for. They follow God's spirit and have absolutely pure hearts of love for our girls and women.
We are also THRILLED about our new partnership with Angela & Yvette of REMNANT Uganda who will lead vocational training in T-shirt screen printing and design for many of our sex-workers who need an income to escape prostitution. We have been praying for marketable skills training for our women. This is a HUGE answer to prayer.
It is the beauty of true harmony we have been praying for--where each part of the body takes care of what they are good at---and the entire person is restored and able to sustain themselves.
Read more about the vision and history behind our healing center under "Dreaming with God"
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Restoring the Girl Child
 Perhaps the heartbeat of what God is doing is breaking cycles. He is taking a life which was destined to be destroyed and creating a daughter of God who worships Him in song and dance.
We have 14 girls now in our Rescue Home and they are the future of Uganda. They are the joy givers of today and tomorrow. Through the sponsorships of people like you, we were able to give them all an EDUCATION, get beautiful pink uniforms, and shoes, and backpacks.
They sleep in beds now without fear. And they dance....
They are the reason teams leave with smiles on their faces, and sometimes tears. Because their hugs are extremely addictive :)
We dream of them changing a nation. Because we believe they can.
No war zone or brothel can stop them.
Watch our latest video
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Anna's Story
 Anna's name used to be Barbara. And before that, Bebe. But she changed it after she left prostitution. She was one of our first women at the home we opened when 50 sex-workers were evicted from their houses. Anna is a worshiper. A true leader. When she left the home, we thought she was lost to us. But the love and discipleship of Pst Ron and Joy has brought her back. Right now Anna doesn't have a place to live because she has given up her old life.
She sometimes goes without food because she doesn't want to sleep with men for money anymore. She preaches to her sisters who are still lost. This kind of faith is expensive. It costs. And she is willing to pay that cost for love. Because Anna loves Jesus and she knows He loves her. We believe she shouldn't have to pay so high a price.
Will you support a woman like Anna to start a new life?
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Make a difference
 I've been amazed this last year, even amidst the economic crisis' and lost jobs, how many people still continued to give to this vision and have faith that God was going to provide for them. As many organizations here in Gulu lose funding and shut down, I see God sustaining us and even flourishing us. So all of you, are my heroes. For your faith even in the desert. Thank you for your continued support!
We are asking you to have faith with us again as we grow. With the new building, and hopefully the hiring of new staff, our expenses will rise, but we know, God's provision will also!
My faith is bolstered by yours.
Here are some ways you can help us:
- Volunteer in the USA (email emma@zionproject.org)
- Volunteer in Uganda (individual or team)
- Forward this newsletter to your friends and have them sign up
- Join our Facebook cause page
- Join Sarita's personal update list (email sarita@zionproject.org)
- Subscribe to our Director's blog
- Host a Bead Party (email beads@zionproject.org)
- Invite us to speak to your friends/group or church
- Introduce us to your Missions Committee
- Join our Intercessors Team (email Tanya at namasteseeker@gmail.com)
- Sponsor a girl in our home by yourself or with friends (only $35 a month!)
- Sponsor our Rescue Home for a month ($1,500)
- Make a tax-deductible donation for one of the following: (New Tires: $800; Generator: $500; Playground $1,000; Guard $100 a month;
Projector $1,000; New clothes for girl $20; Medical visit for girls $50)
Love Parties?
Our child mothers, and Congolese girls are making eco-friendly beaded necklaces made from recycled paper and turned into beauty.
Contact beads@zionproject.org if you are interested in hosting a bead party!! It's a lot of fun for a good cause!
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Note from Sarita
 You are greatly loved. THANK YOU for all your prayers during my multiple sicknesses this past month. I am feeling MUCH better. Know that all the salvations, and healings and victories we had this past month, you receive the reward and inheritance in. Without you, we could not continue to do this.
Tyson and I appreciate all of you so much in how you cover us in prayer and support us in this work God has called us to do. Tyson is starting several businesses here in Uganda to support us financially so please keep him in your prayers and you can reach him at thetyson@gmail.com if you have a word of encouragement for him.
I will be returning to Virginia end of August-Sept for a few weeks just in time to see my sister's baby born! I'm super excited to be a real aunt! And not just "Auntie" to the kids here :)
If you would like for me to speak at your church, or want to pray for me, please email me at sarita@zionproject.org soon and we can arrange it!
love,
Sarita
Special Thanks to Alethia Church and Bethel Church: we loved having you here! As well as Bethany (you're amazing!) our Health Coordinator who is getting us all to wash our hands a lot more :)
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