On January 14, the Oswego East Speech Team hosted the Oswego East Olympiad Speech Tournament. The team generously shared profits of concessions with Note Karacel. The team raised $450 that went towards well number four. Later in the season at their speech banquet, head coach Nicole Schremp presented Note Karacel with an additional $50 from the team. We can’t thank the speech team enough for their continued, generous support. 
The Benefit Concert was a huge success. It was a grace filled evening. The music really touched hearts and souls. The chapel was full and all who attended enjoyed the pictures and stories of the beautiful people in Alenga while having their hearts stirred by the amazing music. $3700.00 was raised.
From August 5 -18, Trish, Diane, and Jack visited Father Stan and all the beautiful people of Alenga. We were able to see first hand the difference that Noté Karacel is making in the lives of so many. Being with Father Stan is like being with a male Mother Theresa. He truly is a living Saint who lives the Gospel with every step and breath. The people of Alenga look at him with such love and appreciation.
We had the privilege of meeting the two communities who had each received a bore hole. Our truck was greeted by smiling faces, singing, dancing, and thanking us. The people shared their stories of how the well was changing their lives in such wonderful ways. The women had to get up early and walk most of the day just to bring dirty water home. They had no other choice. The water made many sick. A tearful man shared that several children had been killed by crocodiles while collecting water from shallow parts of theNileRiver. They shared that now the well has changed everything. They have more time in their day and no one gets sick from the water. It was hard to get our minds around the precious gift of clean water that we had taken for granted every day of our lives. Father Stan shared that 10 boreholes will provide clean water to the entire community of Alenga. We are more determined than ever to keep fund raising to make that happen. We met Flavio, the owner of Draco, the company that drills the bore holes. It is a top notch company and we were very impressed with the facility and their work.
We also had the opportunity to spend time with our precious Little Flowers. These are the beautiful girls that we send to boarding school. The girls also sang and danced for us and thanked their sponsors for changing their lives. These girls will now have the tools to have a bright future. Without an education, few girls have healthy choices for a bright future. Father Stan is always looking for new sponsors to send more girls to school. Please consider partnering with a young girl in sending her to boarding school. Noté Karacel presently has sponsors for 22 girls.
We also were delighted to spend time at the tailoring school. There is one young man and 17 girls here. They are so talented and bright. The students made beautiful purses that we brought home to sell at our fundraisers. The money will be sent back to purchase more supplies. The tailoring school is also in need of more sponsors. When the girls graduate, they are in need of a sewing machine to start their business. Perhaps you feel called to donate the funds for a sewing machine. The people in Alenga do not have very much material wealth and yet are abundantly joyful and happy. They have taught us lessons about real joy and gratitude.
Another highlight of our trip was spending time at the clinic with Sister Lucy and her wonderful staff. We brought medical supplies generously donated by Americares and Sister Lucy wept with joy. Noté Karacel also made a monetary donation so she could order specific supplies they were in need of. She thanked us again for the donation of beds made by a generous Noté Karacel donor last year. The clinic is always in need of funds to order needed medical supplies. The mothers at the clinic having their babies were so warm and friendly. They greatly appreciated the infant care kits that Noté Karacel supporters had provided for us to bring.
Father Stan continued to amaze us with all of his agricultural projects that help to support orphans and needy youth in the community. The second Fish Pond is almost complete and is almost ready to be stocked with fish. Pond number one is already helping to care for many orphans. The pig farm is thriving; he has started a bee hive industry, and has many crops including green beans, onions, and sugar cane. He lets the youth harvest and then lets them sell the crops to help with school fees and other basic costs of living. He thinks constantly of ways to help the needy in Alenga.
It is difficult to express in words the joy that we experienced in Alenga. We came back knowing that Noté Karacel is truly making a huge difference. We feel more convicted than ever to keep working to share their stories and the needs of the people in Alenga. We are so blessed here and together we can make a huge difference. Thank you to all of our wonderful supporters. Your money has gone directly to all of these amazing projects. Please continue to partner with the gifted people in Alenga to give them hope for a brighter future.
Swim to Save Lives was a huge success! Thanks to all of you who came out to support us! It was a very fun event! 😀
In the fall a group of teens hope to host a Dance a Thon at their High School. Contestants will be required to collect pledges of no less than $100.00 to enter. Their goal is to have 100 teens participate to raise funds for 1 well with this single event. It is a beautiful thing to watch God use the energy and enthusiasm of our youth to do his work. They seem to do it in such a fun and joyful way it truly is from God!
Our very own Christie Billups is planning a benefit concert for Note Karacel at Lewis University on October 27th, featuring Judy Schindler, Elliot Wimbush and Dan Murphy:
Join us for an evening of Inspirational World Music performed by professional musicians who have come together to offer their gifts on behalf of Noté Karacel Uganda, a non-profit working together with the people of Alenga, Uganda. Noté Karacel means “Unite Together” – and that is what we propose to do as we gather for an evening of music that speaks of the hope of God’s people for a stronger, more just, and healthier tomorrow. The proceeds of this concert will support our efforts, with our sisters and brothers of Alenga, Uganda, to provide clean water, fresh food, and better education. Learn more about Noté Karacel at www.notekaracel.org.
Suggested Donation: Advance Tickets – $10/At the Door – $15/Students – $5
Three days after Swim to Save lives, Trish, Diane, and Jack will be visiting Father Stan and the people of Alenga. They will report back on the progress of all the amazing projects and educational endeavors that Note Karacel has worked on this past year. They are so excited to meet the Little Flowers and spend some time at the tailoring school and the clinic. They hope to experience the hospitality and graciousness of their brothers and sisters in Alenga that Father Stan has proudly told them about.
A junior board member is also planning a pool party for High School Students and College students, it is called Swim to Save Lives. Tickets are $10.00 and pizza will be sold for $3.00/slice. The funds of this event will go toward the drilling of a well. Our long term goal is to drill 10 wells. We are close to the funding of well #3 and then will go on to #4. This junior board member feels called to bring clean water to Alenga, Uganda and his efforts are almost entirely focused on wells. More information about this special event can be found on its Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=221654881192623
In the spring, students from Regina’s National Art Honor Society collaborated with members of the school’s Yearbook Photography staff to turn their artwork into notecards. Ten student pieces were selected and sold in sets at Regina’s Dramatic Dining event in April. All benefits for the notecards go to The Little Flowers, a project that sponsors the education of African girls by helping to fund their tuition at boarding schools, at both the primary and secondary levels. To find more information on The Little Flowers you can visit www.notekaracel.org.
 | Celebrate Your Life… on Celebrating Seventeen with… |
Noté Karacel Uganda 
You must be logged in to post a comment.